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.
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.
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.
SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.
Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.
EASTENDERS
Barry Evans – Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”.
Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died.
He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.
Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death.
CORONATION STREET
Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.
When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.
Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.
In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.
Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).
Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.
This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.
As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.
Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.
Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.
Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.
Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.
Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.
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.
The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.
EMMERDALE
Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.
He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.
Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
HOLLYOAKS
Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.
Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.
Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.
