Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) had a difficult conversation with Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) in Monday’s (July 26) edition of Coronation Street about assisted dying.

The beloved character has MND which means as time goes on, the illness will eventually leave him unable to do basic tasks like going to the toilet and getting out of the bath.

This was at the forefront of Paul’s mind as he headed home after an appointment at the MND clinic and tried to address the prospect of assisted dying with Billy.

The vicar was devastated to hear the words leave Paul’s mouth. Paul said that a conversation with Shelley had inspired him to think about what lies ahead, and argued that he didn’t want to be in a position where he was living, but wasn’t able to be independent.

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Aside from the fact it goes against his role as an Archdeacon – which is to celebrate the life they have left – Billy was horrified to think about Paul choosing a point where he didn’t want to live and said that the action is similar to that of putting an unwell pet to sleep.

Billy and Paul had points to make on both sides but to make this situation even worse, Billy had misunderstood Paul earlier that day and thought the conversation was going to be a proposal.

As they gave each other space, Paul was in the flat researching the cost of assisted dying in Swizterland, where it has been allowed since 1942.

The prices were high which certainly impacted Paul, who stopped working as a builder when his first MND symptoms developed.

After a drink at the pub and a chat with Todd (Gareth Pierce), Paul said that he had changed his mind, he doesn’t want to go through with it after all.

Billy was relieved and then revealed his previous hopes on Paul proposing.

Embracing the life he has left, Paul didn’t get down on one knee as he wasn’t able to, but he asked Billy to marry him and of course he said yes!

That evening, Billy, Paul and Summer (Harriet Bibby) arrived in the pub to tell their friends about the happy news.

As Billy and Summer ordered drinks, Todd pulled Paul to one side.

Paul was certain that he had made the right choice surrounding assisted dying, but the look on Todd’s face suggested otherwise.

Will this subject arise again in the future?

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