Daniel Brocklebank’s time on Coronation Street is coming to an emotional end, and as he says goodbye to Billy Mayhew, he has shared a surprising detail that makes one of Corrie’s most heartbreaking storylines even more meaningful. After 11 years in Weatherfield, the actor is looking back on a journey filled with love, loss, and a coincidence that stunned even him.
Daniel Brocklebank Bids Farewell to Weatherfield After 11 Years
Daniel Brocklebank first appeared in Coronation Street in 2014 as Billy Mayhew, arriving as Sean Tully’s new partner. Over time, Billy became much more than that, forming relationships with Todd Grimshaw and later Paul Foreman, and growing into one of the show’s most caring and trusted characters. Billy’s storylines were never short of drama. Viewers watched him face love, heartbreak, and plenty of tough choices, all while trying to do the right thing as Weatherfield’s vicar.
But one storyline, in particular, changed everything for both Billy and the audience. In 2024, Billy’s on-screen husband Paul Foreman died after a devastating battle with motor neurone disease. Paul, played by Peter Ash, took viewers on an emotional journey as he learned to live with the illness and prepared for what lay ahead.
The ‘Complete Coincidence’ Behind Billy’s Biggest Story
The storyline followed Paul as his condition worsened, while Billy, Bernie, and Gemma learned how to care for him day by day. The show focused not just on Paul’s illness but also on how it affected the people who loved him, making the scenes especially difficult to watch.
Daniel shared that he lost his grandfather to MND and has met hundreds of people living with the condition or supporting loved ones through his charity work. Despite this, Corrie bosses had no idea about his connection when they gave Billy and Paul the storyline.
He described it as a “complete coincidence” and admitted he would have found it hard if the story had been given to someone else. Because he understands the illness so well, Daniel felt he could bring honesty and care to Billy’s role as Paul’s carer. Drawing on real life, Daniel said he knew exactly what Billy was going through because he and his family have been carers themselves. He called it an honour to share such a personal story on screen and help viewers understand what life with MND is really like.
Now, after 11 years on the show, Daniel has said an emotional goodbye to the cobbles. He said he will always look back on his time at Coronation Street with love, remembering the fun moments, the tragic ones, and even the silly storylines, joking that Billy definitely should never have touched that heroin. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.