“I adore that man.”

Daniel Brocklebank has paid tribute to his co-star Peter Ash, as the pair continue to portray Paul’s motor neurone disease battle on Coronation Street.

Paul is dying and while we don’t know exactly when we’ll bid farewell to him, Billy has been supporting him every step of the way.

Speaking exclusively to us at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards, sponsored by Inspired Villages, Brocklebank admitted he will miss his on-screen partner.

“Well, I adore that man,” he said. “We get on incredibly well. And his performance has just been astonishing. I’m gonna miss him terribly.”

As for how Billy will take Paul’s death? He will be understandably crushed.

“He’s about to lose his husband, the love of his life. I don’t think anybody would take that very easily,” Brocklebank shared.

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Daniel Brocklebank as Billy Mayhew and Peter Ash as Paul Foreman in Coronation Street.
The actor has been very open about his own experience of motor neurone disease following his grandfather’s death from it. He’s also a patron of the MND Association for the past 23 years.

“In the 30 years that I’ve been doing this for a living, I don’t think I’ve ever played anything so close to something I’ve actually lived through,” Brocklebank explained.

“Our research team, our writers’ team have done an incredible job. I’m very proud to be able to represent the MND community in this way – but it’s been difficult. And Peter Ash is incredible.”