CORONATION Street’s Peter Ash has secured a substantial new role just months after being killed off.
He played Paul Foreman, who battled motor neuron disease (MND) – a rare condition which affects the brain and nerves.
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Today on X, formerly known as Twitter, he announced that he will be swapping the small screen for the stage.
Peter said: “Very excited to say I will be joining this incredible cast next year for @peterjamesonstage’s brand new Roy Grace play Picture You Dead! Hope to see you there.”
Picture You Dead is the seventh Peter James book to be adapted for the stage by award-winning writer Shaun McKenna and is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle.
The story of Picture You Dead was inspired by Peter’s meeting with real life art forger and now acclaimed copyist, David Henty.
Set in Brighton, DSI Grace investigates a cold case.
Meanwhile, an unsuspecting couple unwittingly buy a potentially long-lost masterpiece in a car boot sale, but their dream find is
about to turn into their worst nightmare -only Grace can stop them from paying the ultimate price.
It’s a world away from Coronation Street, where he played some heartbreaking scenes as his MND symptoms gradually worsened.
Viewers watched as on September 9, Paul became distressed and struggled to breathe so was rushed to hospital.
In heartbreaking scenes, he stopped breathing before his husband Billy could reach him.
Moment Coronation Street’s Billy Mayhew is saved from tragic death as Paul ‘returns from the dead’ in emotional scenes
He dialled in to say goodbye, saying: “My beautiful husband, I’m sorry I’m not there yet.
“I love you Paul, and I am gonna miss you every day for the rest of my life. And even though I don’t say it, I would do this a million times over because being with you and loving you has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“You just hold on, I’m coming.”
The performance won a National Television Award for Serial Drama Performance. Peter accepted the award, saying, “I feel really honoured to have been part of the MND storyline. Thank you very much.”
He was in the soap for almost 600 episodes before he bid farewell to the character.
Fans were devastated at the time, but they won’t have to wait too long to see him again.
Next month, he will also appear in a production of Aladdin in Oldham, where he’ll play Abanazar at Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Following that, Picture You Dead opens on 6 February 2025 at High Wycombe’s Swan Theatre before embarking on a major UK Tour.
Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.
Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.
