CORONATION Street legend Kevin Webster will battle cancer in a harrowing new storyline on the soap.
The mechanic – who is played by actor Michael Le Vell in the ITV soap – has been a mainstay on the cobbles for 41 years but next year he will face hi toughest battle yet.
Sign up for the Corontation Street newsletter
And it’s going to hit his wife Abi hard too as she struggles with her own ordeal.
New producer Kate Brooks told The Sun: “As we go into the new year, Kevin will discover that he’s got testicular cancer, which causes a massive strain on his relationship.
“Abi is a really strong character, but she’s going through her own turmoil at the same time.
“We want to tell this really truthfully. We’ve been working closely with Macmillan to make sure that we tell the story right.
“Ultimately, it’s about their relationship and testing that relationship.”
Working with Macmillan has meant Corrie is keen to raise awareness of the disease – and have Kevin speak frankly about what he’s going through.
“It was really important that we don’t show Kevin being embarrassed or being reticent to talk to his friends about it,” Kate added.
“He’s quite open about it, which I thought was quite refreshing.
“He talks to Tim and Steve about it, and they all have their own way of handling it, but ultimately it’s about his relationship with Abi, and that is going to be truly tested.
“As I alluded to, Abi is going through her own situation as she struggles with the aftermath of a big event that happens in January.
EMMERDALE cast talk testicular cancer
“She loves Kevin and he loves her, but temptation comes Abi’s way…”
Meanwhile with a cancer battle and a wandering wife, Kevin and sister Debbie will come face to face with their long-lost brother Carl when he makes his debut in Weatherfield.
Symptoms of testicular cancer
The most common sign is a lump or swelling on one of your testicles, which is normally about the size of a pea.
Not all testicular lumps are cancerous, while only four per cent of scrotal lumps are, but you should still always get your GP to take a look.
Here are the signs to look out for:
To know if you have any signs of changes in your testicles, it’s important to know what feels normal.
It’s a good idea to have a hot shower before checking them, then gently roll your testicle between your thumb and finger.
Then repeat for the other testicle.
Repeat this every week so you get a feel for their shape and siz
Kate revealed: “We’ve got Carl Webster coming into the show, who is Debbie and Kevin’s brother, to build up that Webster clan.
“We’ve got big stories coming up for Debbie and Kevin. It’s about building that clan up. For me, the Websters, Barlows and Platts are the big clans.”
