After more than a decade on the cobbles, actor Daniel Brocklebank has publicly shared his feelings following the dramatic exit of his character, Reverend Billy Mayhew, from Coronation Street.
An Emotional Farewell After 11 Years
The 46-year-old actor's final scenes aired on Monday night in a special crossover event with rival soap Emmerdale, dubbed 'Corriedale'. His character, the kind-hearted vicar, met a brutal end after being involved in a catastrophic minibus pile-up on the M25 following Debbie Webster's wedding.
In the gripping storyline, Billy had recently discovered that his best friend, Todd Grimshaw (played by Gareth Pierce), was suffering abuse at the hands of boyfriend Theo Silverton. This made Billy a target. Trapped in the driver's seat after the crash, his fate was sealed when the villainous Theo arrived at the scene, not to help, but to cruelly fasten his seatbelt, leaving him to perish in a subsequent explosion.
'I Couldn't Believe It Was Goodbye'
Shortly after the episode was broadcast, Brocklebank posted an emotional video message on the official Coronation Street Instagram page. "Hello, it's Daniel Brocklebank here. Gosh, I can't believe I'm sat here recording my goodbyes," he began.
He extended heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with the Manchester-based serial drama for the past 11 years, describing the experience as a "special part of my life". He also addressed the loyal viewers directly: "And to you guys at home watching, thank you for the love and support for my little special character over the time that I have been here."
Behind the Scenes of the Departure
The actor's exit was first announced in May 2025. At the time, his partner, Jordan Coulthard, took to social media to express dismay, stating it was "not his decision" and labelling the move a "huge mistake".
However, in a recent interview with The Mirror, Brocklebank presented a more philosophical perspective. He revealed he had discussed with his partner that it might be "time" to move on, citing a desire for new acting challenges after a relatively quiet year on the show following the impactful Motor Neurone Disease (MND) storyline with his on-screen husband, Paul Foreman.
"That MND storyline is probably the thing I’m most proud of," he admitted. He reflected on Billy's extensive journey, which included battling drug addiction, adopting a child, featuring in the show's first same-sex wedding, and dealing with profound loss. "It’s not like he hadn’t packed it in – it’s been quite a colourful 11 years," Brocklebank mused.
He confirmed the departure was storyline-driven and accepted the nature of continuing drama. "It is just a job at the end of the day and there’s no character bigger than the show," he stated, adding that he was touched by messages of support and future work opportunities from industry contacts after the news broke.
Coronation Street continues to air Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and is available for streaming from 7am on ITVX.
