Coronation Street gets ready for first gay wedding

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Daniel Brocklebank as Billy

Coronation Street bosses are lining up the first gay wedding in the soap's 60 year history.

Corrie favourite Daniel Brocklebank, who plays archdeacon Billy Mayhew, says his character would be one of the grooms.

But viewers will be on tenterhooks wondering if Billy will end up with his ex Todd Grimshaw or current partner Paul Foreman.

Billy, played by Daniel Brocklebank, is currently unaware that he's being lured away from Paul, played by Peter Ash, by devious Todd, played by Gareth Pierce.


Peter as Paul Foreman with Daniel Brocklebank as Billy Mayhew

Todd, who returned to the street last year after being on the run for three years, is on a mission to split up Billy and new love Paul.

If there is a wedding it would be a first for the show, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in December.

Corrie has previously screened attempts at lesbian weddings with Sophie Webster and Sian Powers and Kate Connor and Rana Habeeb.

Daniel told the Mirror: “From my perspective, I would LOVE to be part of Corrie's first male gay wedding. "None of the others have followed through – we've only attempted three.


Todd and Billy

"Two were lesbian weddings and neither happened – the roof collapsed on one and there was a jilting at the other.

“It would be lovely, as a gay man myself, to be part of the first gay wedding on Corrie that actually happens! That would be amazing.”

Daniel, who joined the soap in 2014, said his character would be torn by the fact that he couldn't have a religious ceremony because gay marriages are not permitted to take place in a church.

“I think that would be really important – he would want to do it in a church so if there was anything to stop him, it would be that," said the actor.


A love triangle is forming

"It would have to be a pretty special man to make him get married in a registry office.”

In 2010 Sean Tully, played by Antony Cotton, was expected to marry his boyfriend Marcus Dent, played by Charlie Condou, but the pair split before making it down the aisle.

The following year Sophie, played by Brooke Vincent, and Sian, played by Sacha Parkinson, donned twin meringue dresses for their ceremony but Sian fled after finding out that her fiancee had cheated on her.

Then there was tragedy in 2019 when Rana, played by Bhavna Limbachia, and Kate, played by Faye Brookes, were due to get hitched but on their big day the Underworld factory roof collapsed on Rana, killing the bride-to-be.

Daniel hinted that the possible proposal might prompt Billy to quit the church.

“Once he quit for Sean and then he quit for Todd - but he's gone back both times,” Daniel said.

“Now that he's archdeacon I think it would be even harder for him to walk out.”