On Tuesday, Good Morning Britain welcomed a special guest, former Coronation Street actor Peter Ash. Fans of the beloved ITV drama will recall that Peter, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, played the character Paul Foreman.
His character’s storyline ended tragically in September after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). As the disease progressed, Paul married his partner Billy Mayhew, portrayed by Daniel Brocklebank, before eventually becoming housebound.
Paul passed away in 2024, 17 months post-diagnosis, and Peter’s performance earned him a National Television Award for Serial Drama Performance.
Nearly six months later, Peter appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss his latest project, a stage adaptation titled Picture You Dead, reports Plymouth Live.
The thrilling play, based on the popular book by Peter James, is set to tour from February 6 to May 17 2025.
Peter now sports a longer hairstyle and full beard, a stark contrast to his clean-shaven look and short hair during his Coronation Street tenure.
During his interview, hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls surprised Peter with a birthday cake live on air to celebrate his 40th birthday, a gesture that visibly moved the actor. Richard Arnold presented the cake, complete with lit candles.
After his appearance on the show, Peter turned to Instagram to share his joy, posting: “What a lovely way to start my 40th birthday! Thank you, @gmb for the cake! #HappyBirthdayToMe #40thBirthday.”
Fans swiftly responded in the comments section with birthday greetings. One admirer commented: “Happy birthday and many blessings for you Peter! “, while another shared: “Happy 40th birthday”.
Another fan exclaimed: “Happy 40th birthday, enjoy your day”, and a person who shares the same birthday date wrote: “We share a Birthday! Have a great day, lots of love xx.”
Additionally, after securing a National Television Award last year, Peter voiced his appreciation, stating: “Still think I’m coming down off the high from last week’s National Television Awards!”
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Along with expressing thanks to his supporters, he said: “Thank you again to everyone who voted. I am so glad that Paul’s story has resonated with so many people. I also feel very lucky to have worked alongside such an incredible cast and crew on this MND storyline. #NTA #NationalTelevisionAwards #Corrie #CoronationStreet #MND #MotorNeuroneDisease.”
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