Coronation Street’s Billy Mayhew was saved from a tragic end by a familiar presence.
The vicar, portrayed by Daniel Brocklebank, recently lost his beloved husband, Paul Foreman (played by Peter Ash), who had been battling motor neurone disease. On the day of Paul’s funeral, Billy found himself overwhelmed with grief, even attempting to kiss his ex, Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce).
Distraught, Billy tried to numb his pain with alcohol and ended up outside in the freezing cold.
But he wasn’t truly alone. Paul appeared to him as a vision, urging him to stay alive.
Peter Ash returned to the soap to play Paul in a series of emotional scenes.
Speaking to his heartbroken husband, Paul said, “You didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. Now’s your moment.”
He continued, “I’m still here with you. Just because we can’t go out together anymore doesn’t mean I’m gone. You can talk to me. Say what you would have, if you’d made it to the hospital in time.”
In response, Billy said, “That I love you. That I’ll always love you.”
He added, “We didn’t have enough time, not even a year as a married couple… But in that short time, we shared more joy than some people find in a lifetime.”
Meanwhile, Bernie (Jane Hazlegrove) received a message from Todd, worried about Billy’s well-being and uncertain of his location.
After having a dream of Paul, Bernie sensed where Billy might be. She found him, brought him home, and enlisted Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey) to help get him warmed up.
Once Billy was comfortable, Bernie shared a heartfelt message, saying, “I’ve got four kids now… Apollo, Gemini, Kit—and Billy.”
