Billy's Gone From Sinner To Saint

Corrie favourite daniel Brocklebank on how he sees Billy the vicar's fall from grace, his spiritual journey and looming painkiller addiction…

- Johnathon Hughes

SOAPS

Coronation Street

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY / ITV / 7.30PM & 8.30PM

Weathersfield vicar Billy Mayhew has been on quite a  journey since we first met him three and a half years ago. With his words of wisdom and community spirit, the caring clergyman has become a cobbles favourite.

Taming bad boy Todd Grimshaw and becoming a parent to orphaned teenager Summer, he had a charmed life – until the revelation that Billy had been involved in the death of Susan Barlow in 2001, and the truth about his criminal past came to light.

Susan’s twin brother Peter tried to kill him, and now her son Adam is plotting revenge, while Todd and Summer have vanished. It’s a far cry from church jumble sales and Sunday sermons!

Fans have been shocked at the skeletons in the vicar’s vestry, but how did actor Daniel Brocklebank handle Billy’s transformation from holy man to troubled soul?

‘I was surprised when I found out about his colourful past,’ admits the star, chatting exclusively to TV Times from Corrie’s studios in Salford. ‘But it explains how Billy became who he is, as opposed to changing who I thought he was.