'completely heartbroken'
This Morning fans praise Shayne Ward as he gets emotional talking about ‘distressing’ Coronation Street suicide storyline
SHAYNE Ward was inundated with praise following his incredibly emotional appearance on today’s This Morning.
Yesterday it was revealed that the actor’s Coronation Street character Aidan Connor will take his own life in shocking upcoming scenes.
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The 33-year-old, who joined the soap in 2015, looked close to tears as he opened up about learning his fate.
He told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that he was was left "instantly scared" and "nervous" when series producer Kate Oates gave him the news in December that factory boss Aidan Connor would be killed off this spring.
And while he still feels emotional about the plot - which will play out next week - he is delighted Corrie are covering the subject.
He said: "I was asked before Christmas. It's really tough to watch. I was just full of all different emotions. I was instantly scared, I was nervous, and completely heartbroken, because I knew this was more than just a storyline.
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"I knew the impact it's going to have on the public when it airs. It's amazing Coronation Street is covering this. I'm still full of all emotions.
“There’s always been something underlying with Aidan. The viewers would have seen it. That’s the message we were trying to get out that sometimes it’s not as plain to see and you have to look a little deeper but all the signs were there with Aidan. That’s the scary thing about it.”
Shayne found it hard to watch his "very distressing" final scenes, but has praised the "clever" way the ITV soap has put the storyline together to tie in with Jack P. Shepherd's character David Platt speaking out about being raped by fellow Weatherfield resident Josh Tucker (Ryan Clayton).
He added: "It was a very tough watch. My scenes are very distressing.
"Not everyone is going to have the same opinion on it. It's not in your face. It's very cleverly done.
"We're trying to get it out there without saying, 'You should talk.'
"We've done it in a very clever way with Jack and his storyline because he then realises, 'I don't want to die.' It's such an important message. It's cleverly done by Corrie.
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"Jack seems to be the one someone is expecting something to happen to. Jack is playing it incredibly, so everyone is quite worried he may head towards that, so we'll see what happens."
In some of his final scenes, Aidan will be seen giving his dad a membership to a golf club, as well as giving other people gifts, which according to Shayne is his version of a suicide note.
"We didn't know how to approach the suicide note thing. A lot of people don't leave suicide notes, some people do," he said.
"He gives his dad a golf membership, he made sure everyone got their jobs back at the factory, he gives little Liam his expensive watch.
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"Just little things, he was building up better relationships so people could see Aidan was a good guy."
Those watching This Morning at home took to Twitter to praise Shayne, with one person saying: “@shayneTward Can see how this has affected you watching #ThisMorning. I think all #Corrie fans will be very emotional watching this play out next week.”
Another wrote: “@shayneTward has only just started the interview and we’re in tears. #ThisMorning such a crucial subject, Thanks for bringing awareness. #Heartbroken.”
And someone else commented: “Already in tears. Story line close to my heart 💔 this will be so hard to watch @shayneTward #thismorning #coronationstreet.”
In his final scenes, to be shown next Monday, Aidan will subtly say goodbye to unsuspecting friends and family.
He tells ex-fiancee Eva, played by Catherine Tyldesley, that he loves her and she is “better off without him”.
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He later closes his eyes in the Rovers as his dad’s leaving party goes on around him.
The episode’s final scene will see him crying alone on his sofa.
Broadcasting rules forbid Aidan’s suicide being shown in a bid to prevent copycat attempts.
His devastated dad Johnny, played by Richard Hawley, will ater finding him dead in the bathroom.
Shayne Ward backtracks after saying he bounces off his love triangle co-stars
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