Coronation Street’s Peter Ash has landed a major new role just months after his character was killed off in the soap. Ash, who portrayed Paul Foreman, a character battling motor neuron disease (MND), has announced a shift from the small screen to the stage.
On X (formerly Twitter), Peter excitedly shared that he will be joining the cast of the upcoming stage production of Picture You Dead, a new Roy Grace play based on the seventh book by Peter James. The play is adapted by award-winning writer Shaun McKenna and will be directed by Jonathan O’Boyle.
Picture You Dead is set in Brighton and follows DSI Grace as he investigates a cold case involving a lost masterpiece. An unsuspecting couple unknowingly buys the artwork at a car boot sale, only to find themselves in grave danger. Grace must intervene to prevent a disaster.
This marks a dramatic departure from Ash’s time on Coronation Street, where he portrayed Paul Foreman’s heartbreaking decline due to MND. In a poignant storyline, Paul’s condition worsened until he passed away in the arms of his husband Billy.
Peter’s emotional performance earned him a National Television Award for Serial Drama Performance. He had been a part of Coronation Street for nearly 600 episodes, and his exit left fans devastated. However, fans won’t have to wait long to see him back on stage.
Next month, Peter will also take on the role of Abanazar in Aladdin at Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham. Following that, Picture You Dead will open on February 6, 2025, at High Wycombe’s Swan Theatre before touring the UK.
