After more than a decade on the nation's most famous cobbles, actor Daniel Brocklebank has filmed his final scenes as the beloved vicar Billy Mayhew on Coronation Street. The 46-year-old star, who first appeared on the ITV soap in 2014, has spoken exclusively about his emotional departure and the memories he will cherish from his 12-year stint in Weatherfield.
Farewell to a Fan Favourite
Daniel Brocklebank's character, Billy Mayhew, quickly became a central figure on the Street after his debut as a love interest for Sean Tully. Over the years, Billy's relationships, most notably with Todd Grimshaw and later Paul Foreman, along with his role as the local clergyman, placed him at the heart of numerous major storylines.
One of the most poignant plots involved the tragic death of Billy's on-screen husband, Paul Foreman, played by Peter Ash, from motor neurone disease in 2024. The powerful portrayal of grief and loss earned Brocklebank and Ash significant acclaim, including the Best Partnership award at the 2024 Inside Soap Awards and the Best Storyline honour at the Radio Times Soap Awards.
Memories, Mementos, and Moving On
As he prepares for his final episodes to air in 2026, Brocklebank is looking forward to his next challenge: the lead role in Young Frankenstein The Musical at Liverpool Playhouse Theatre. However, his focus remains on the profound connections forged during his time on the soap.
"I'll miss the people," he admitted. "The people that I am most close to, we speak all the time, we see each other all the time... We'll just have to make more of an effort." He confirmed he has no plans to leave Manchester, where he lives just minutes from the actress who plays his on-screen daughter.
Following soap tradition, the actor has taken several keepsakes from the set to remember Billy by. "Billy had a really lovely leather chair in his living room. That's now in my bedroom upstairs," he revealed. He also took artwork featuring sausage dogs—a nod to his own three pets—and personal items from Billy and Paul's wedding, including photos, a stag do sash, and Polaroids used in the storyline.
A Legacy of Drama and Fondness
Reflecting on his long tenure, which spans nearly a third of his 32-year acting career, Brocklebank emphasised the deep bonds created behind the scenes. "During that 11 year period, you may have helped each other through all sorts of things, marriages, births, deaths... the relationships on a job like Corrie are far deeper cemented," he explained.
He expressed gratitude for the range of storylines, from the tragic to the silly, joking: "He should never have touched that heroin!" Ultimately, his departure is filled with positivity. "I've loved my time at Corrie, and I will always look back on it with nothing but absolute love in my heart," he concluded.
While plot details surrounding Billy's exit are being kept secret, fans can expect his final scenes to air later this year. Coronation Street continues on ITV at 8pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with episodes available to stream from 7am on ITVX.
