Coronation Street sign up Phoenix Nights comedy legend as part of show’s first ever gay wedding next week
A MUCH-LOVED comedy star is set to join the cast of Coronation Street, The Sun can exclusively reveal.
The iconic ITV soap will showcase the programme’s first ever gay wedding next week as Paul Foreman (portrayed by Peter Ash) and Billy Mayhew () tie the knot.
The Coronation Street pair decide to walk down the aisle as builder Paul’s fight against motor neurone disease continues.
Now we can report how Phoenix Nights legend Justin Moorhouse, 53 – who played Young Kenny in comedian Peter Kay‘s sitcom – will have a starring role.
A source told us: “He’s filmed a sketch with Jack P Shepherd for the show – he’s not a permanent cast member, it’s more of a cameo.”
Justin is listed in the cast list for next week’s episodes, with the caption Radio Presenter.
He is also a broadcaster off-screen, for local station BBC Radio Manchester.
Channel 4 sitcom Phoenix Nights first aired in 2001 and only lasted for two series – but its characters like Justin’s will never be forgotten.
Justin had the role of idiotic handyman Kenny, who wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the box.
Kenny once had to walk around with his face painted like a tiger for days because of a dodgy face painting job at a family fun day.
The stand-up comedian went on to star in the blockbuster film Looking For Eric alongside football legend Eric Cantona.
From 2010 to 2011 he starred in Harold Brighouse’s play Zack at the Royal Exchange in Manchester and he spent a year playing Dean Upton on Coronation Street between 2014 and 2015.
Justin has also appeared on Michael McIntyre‘s Comedy Roadshow, Celebrity Mastermind, Still Open All Hours and wrote and appeared in his own BBC Radio 4 show Everyone Quite Likes Justin.
Meanwhile, Corrie fans are set to be delighted as the show makes history with the upcoming gay wedding.
Yet their happiness may be bittersweet, as groom Paul has a limited amount of time left to live, leaving questions as to whether he will make it down the aisle.
Weatherfield has seen lesbian ceremonies go downhill as viewers will undoubtedly remember Sian Powers and Sophie Webster‘s 2011 wedding never materialising.
In 2019, Kate Connor and Rana Habeeb‘s big day was ruined by the roof collapse in the Underworld factory – which resulted in the latter’s death.
Will Billy and Paul be the lucky ones?
