'Coronation Street's Tony Hirst: 'Paul is drawn to Eileen'

Coronation Street star Tony Hirst has opened up about his upcoming storyline.

Hirst's character Paul, whose wife Lesley suffers from Alzheimer's disease, has been struggling with his growing feelings for Eileen, played by Sue Cleaver, despite the fact that he is still married.

Hirst told the ITV website of the storyline: "Paul is drawn to Eileen... in desperate need of her companionship, fun and warmth and yet he remains committed to his wife as her devoted carer and husband.

"A unique triangle with conflict in all directions, for all involved. It is not a situation anyone ever planned or wished for.

"We know Eileen is a compassionate, caring woman who has been unlucky and is desperate to love and be loved. Paul is very much the same, though his circumstances differ greatly.

"He is absolutely devoted to his wife Lesley but is more than aware that their love has changed and the impact on him is massive. I think he is very near the edge.

"His loneliness and desperation great, his feelings of inadequacy overwhelming. And of course his guilt at feeling such things only compounds his problem."

Hirst said that he loves working with "Corrie institution" Cleaver, describing her as "warm, generous and open" and admitted that they need a "laughter lobotomy" because they have developed their "own particular brand of stupid humour" on set.

He also said that Coronation Street producers have insisted on presenting the Alzheimer's storyline with "accuracy and credibility", despite it being a "bleak" disease. The Alzheimer's charity that the writers worked closely with has since praised the plot.

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