ITV Coronation Street star Peter Ash has a very famous cousin – and he’s his biggest fan

Coronation Street fans have been left in tears at Peter Ash’s heartbreaking storyline as his character, Paul Foreman, battles Motor Neurone Disease.

In a first for the long running soap there was an entire episode dedicated to his powerful journey as he spends a perfect day with his partner, Billy Mayhew, before his condition leaves him unable to. Actor Peter first stepped foot in Weatherfield in 2018 as Paul, David Platt’s cellmate from their time at Highfield Prison. He quickly cemented himself as a series regular after his release from prison. His character became a part of the show’s first same-sex wedding upon Paul’s marriage to on-screen husband Billy Mayhew, played by Daniel Brocklebank. The wedding took place over 60 years after the show first aired.

But the characters have been navigating difficult news with Paul’s MND diagnosis, which has affected his nearest and dearest in the series. He kept his diagnosis a secret for some time but eventually told his husband and others close to him about what he was going through.

Only recently, things have deteriorated for the cobbles favourite and Friday’s episode aired a powerful episode devoted entirely to a day in the life of Paul from his perspective. The actor has even won an award for his portrayal of the character facing the condition, being recently awarded the Radio Times Soap Award for Best Storyline.

And it turns out that acting success runs in the family, as his cousin William Ash has also cemented a successful career on-screen. Fans will recognise William for his roles as Caleb Milligan in fellow soap opera Emmerdale, as well as his science teacher and Deputy Head role of Christopher Mead in Waterloo Road.

William praised his family member for his important work raising awareness of MND in Coronation Street, telling Digital Spy in 2023: “I saw a bit of it the other day and he’s brilliant, isn’t he? “It’s so good what he’s doing – he’s just fantastic,” William continued of his cousin. “I saw the episode where he got the wheelchair, with the scene in the pub afterwards, and he was just brilliant. I don’t watch that much telly but I was round at my mum’s and we watched it together,” he said. “He’s doing fantastic.”

William concluded: “It’s a shame, actually, that he’s going to have to eventually leave. He’s been brilliant in it and he’s a top lad.” The emotional episode was also dedicated to the memory of Rugby League legend Rob Burrow, who died from motor neurone disease (MND) last month. The episode saw Billy and Paul enjoy a special day together, knowing each moment could be their last after they were told it was no longer safe for Paul to use the stair lift to leave the flat.