James Bailey’s (Nathan Graham) life and career are both on the line next week in Coronation Street as he collapses during a football game.

The match in question is the Rovers team vs Flying Horse – who are very, very competitive.

Initially, James agrees to help Jenny (Sally Ann Matthews) out with a bit of training, but after a grumpy Tim (Joe Duttine) gets into an argument with Dev (Jimmi Harkishin), he returns to the cobbles – so James takes his place.

As the game gets underway, it isn’t long until James ups the stakes and soon, the Rovers team are in the lead.

However, just as the final whistle prepares to sound, James collapses to the floor and is rushed to hospital.

Fortunately, as actor Nathan Graham will explain, his character survives the collapse but is later told some life-changing news.

‘James is told he’s got cardiomyopathy’.

‘He’s then told that he’s got to be fitted with an ICD [Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator] to prevent further cardiac arrests. I guess for James, as a footballer, he kind of has a reference point because obviously he’s seen [Christian] Eriksen – as we all saw in the European championships – pretty much the same thing happened to him, and he was then fitted with an ICD.

‘Obviously, it’s scary going to have surgery. But I think he also knows that going through this process gives him hope, and belief that he will be okay, and he’ll be back to full health.’

While James hopes he’ll soon be back to full health, he can’t help but wonder what this will mean for his footballing career.

‘I don’t think he can imagine himself working for his dad or pulling pints in the Rovers, football and sport if all he has ever known’, Nathan adds.

‘When he was injured last time, he got his coaching qualifications so that is an option. Ideally though he wants to go back to playing once he has recovered, but that also lies in the hands of Weatherfield County and the manager, so it is a scary time for him.’

Source: Read Full Article