In next week's Coronation Street, Tyrone Dobbs is set to receive a birthday surprise that will shock him to the core: the first appearance of his biological father, Ross, played by actor Ian Burfield. The mechanic, portrayed by Alan Halsall since 1998, has never known his father, and the revelation comes courtesy of his daughters Hope and Ruby, who secretly used his DNA to trace him.
Cassie's Exit and a New Role
The storyline coincides with the upcoming exit of Claire Sweeney, who plays Tyrone's mother Cassie Plummer. Sweeney is leaving the soap to take on the role of Miss Hannigan in the touring production of Annie, starting July 7. She will replace La Voix, who begins the tour on May 23 in Wimbledon, with subsequent stops in Birmingham, Manchester, Plymouth, and Canterbury.
The Surprise Unfolds
According to spoilers, at No. 9, Cassie catches Hope and Ruby engrossed in an email on Hope's phone. When she quizzes them, they refuse to reveal details, insisting it's a surprise for Tyrone. Meanwhile, in the Rovers, Tyrone and Fiz share a romantic bottle of prosecco, but their mood is interrupted by Cassie, Steve McDonald, and Tracy Barlow. Cassie, fed up with Tracy's interference, later proposes to Steve in the cab office. However, feeling let down by Steve when she sees him helping Tracy with a flower delivery, Cassie heads to the Chariot Square hotel bar, where she drinks vodka and chats up a man at the bar—unaware that this man is Ross, Tyrone's father.
Tyrone's Reaction
Returning home after her bender, Cassie accepts Hope's invitation to a family meal at the Bistro. Steve tells Cassie he wants to forget the last few days and move on. Then, Hope and Ruby reveal their surprise: they sent off a sample of Tyrone's DNA, traced his dad, and he's there. As Ross enters the Bistro, Tyrone and Cassie are stunned.
Speaking about the surprise, Alan Halsall said: "Obviously, Tyrone knows he has some form of surprise coming from the girls, but he doesn't know what it will be. The last thing he would be expecting is that the girls had secretly used his DNA to find his biological father. It's completely out of the blue; I don't think anyone would be ready for a scenario like that."
A Reluctant Reunion
Halsall added: "He is so shocked by the whole scenario. Once the family leaves him to get to know his dad, his immediate instinct is that he wants to get back home to his girls and his wife to talk about why they've done this. His first thought is, 'I don't really want to get to know this guy. I'm old enough; I've done all right without a dad, and I certainly don't need this in my life right now!'"
However, Tyrone will be interested to find out more. "He absolutely is a stranger, but in those situations, you have an itch to at least get to know the person, speak to them, and see who they are," Halsall explained. "It becomes more apparent when talking to him, and he realizes it was a sweet gesture from the girls. Fiz is a big part of that, encouraging him to just speak to him. Tyrone's initial perspective is, 'I'll just speak to him, get it out of the way, and find out who a part of me is,' but he doesn't necessarily want a lasting relationship."
