Coronation Street might not have always hit the mark in recent months, but one story that has been told

perfectly surrounds Paul Foreman’s Motor Neurone Disease.

Since his diagnosis in April last year, viewers have watched the much-loved character come to terms with

his life-limiting condition and his gradual deterioration, as he lost the ability to walk, talk and eat.

It is an illness that is rarely depicted on TV, but Corrie have used the soap format to tell Paul’s story carefully and sensitively over a long period of time, led by an unbelievable performance from Peter Ash.

Paul is facing new challenges as his MND reaches the advanced stages, and it is at this point that the show produced a special episode from Paul’s perspective – which aired tonight (July 26).

The episode’s aim was to get inside the head of a someone suffering with MND, and the opening scene did literally that, with a dream sequence showing Paul dancing freely alongside his husband Billy.

As viewers have followed Paul’s condition so closely over 15 months, it was a shock to see him on his feet and healthy once again. But the dream soon turned into a nightmare and Paul woke up trapped inside his own body, with his speech having deteriorated further overnight.

Paul has just been told that it is no longer safe for him to use the stairlift, so he is about to be confined to the flat until they can find a new place to live. Because of this, Billy planned one last day outside for Paul.

The couple returned to the church where they got married, illustrated with some emotional throwback footage from their special day that Paul recalls in his head.

They then visited the Rovers where his friends had gathered, and David had an extra surprise. He used a Biozoon, a product specifically made for those who are unable to swallow, to turn a pint of ale into foam bubbles that Paul could taste.

There was another layer of innovation to this episode, as an extra voiceover allowed viewers to hear Paul’s inner thoughts. This made clear his frustration with his condition, as he has become unable to voice what he truly thinks and feels.

In a particularly heartbreaking moment, Paul told Billy that he loved him, but Billy misunderstood and thought that he said he needed the toilet, and his inner monologue was left in despair.

When this special episode was announced, there were suspicions from viewers that this could be Paul’s final episode, and that he would choose this ‘final day out’ to end his life. This is a decision that Paul made shortly after his diagnosis, as he didn’t want his disease to progress to its natural end.

And sure enough, during their trip out, Paul realised that it was time – a decision he shared with Todd, who was the first person he told about this plan.

He said final goodbyes to Gemma, Summer and Bernie, but Todd was aware of what he intended to do, and back in the flat he said a particularly emotional farewell to his friend.

Decision made, Paul began to play ‘Oh Happy Day’ – the musical signal that he and Billy agreed would mark when he was ready to end his life, their beloved song representing words he no longer had at his disposal.

Billy’s expression when he heard the opening bars of the song was gut-wrenching, as he refused to accept this, realising that he wasn’t ready for this day and would never be ready for this day.

While this episode is marked by its creativity, Corrie didn’t go over the top with special effects or clever format tweaks. The episode’s second half is practically a two-hander between Paul and Billy, and it is the simplicity that made it so great.

There were some remarkable performances from Peter Ash and Daniel Brocklebank as the couple emotionally discussed Paul’s decision, until Billy accepted that it was time.

They decided to wait until after midnight, as Paul didn’t want his death to fall on Chesney’s birthday, so after Billy prepared the equipment they lay on the sofa, imagining places they had never been together.

Desperate to stay close to his faith before assisting with Paul’s suicide, Billy read a passage from Corinthians. During this, viewers took a trip down memory lane with a moving montage of their relationship over the past five years – the love they have shared and the many challenges they have faced.

The devastating end to this episode seemed inevitable at this point, but things didn’t go to plan. As Billy asked Paul once more whether this was what he wanted, they were interrupted by a call from Chesney.

Carys had been rushed to hospital, so Billy and Paul offered to look after the other kids for the evening, Paul’s plan put to one side for now.

Joseph, who had started to feel apprehensive around Paul, told him he had read a book about MND and now understood his condition more, and he hoped that he would feel better tomorrow.

On the sofa with Billy, Paul drifted into a dream once again, and they escaped to an imaginary beach, as the new day dawned.

As even soaps begin to get more fast-paced, moments of intimacy and pause have become few and far between. It is these moments between Paul and Billy that made the episode so special, becoming more precious with what little time they have left together.

Chesney picked up the children, and Paul told them that he would see them soon, before saying to Billy: not today. He didn’t want to go just yet.

Although the end is soon coming, we breathe a sigh of relief for Billy and for ourselves, that we haven’t had to say goodbye to Paul and to Peter Ash. We understand Billy’s desire for more time, and are grateful for more moments, however few are left.

It is important to note that this special episode was dedicated to Rob Borrow, the former rugby player and campaigner who was consulted on Corrie’s MND storyline and who died of the condition only last month.

Paul’s story isn’t over yet, but this episode will undoubtedly be a defining moment of a storyline that has been told perfectly and has raised so much awareness – carrying on Rob’s legacy.