Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Corrie Richard: I tried to honour men who’ve been hit by suicide
Star on grieving dad scenes
ACTOR Richard Hawley has dedicated his performance as grieving Corrie dad Johnny Connor to the men and their families tormented by suicide.
The character will find his son Aidan’s body in tonight’s episode after the factory boss took his own life at home.
Johnny is heard breaking down in the heart-wrenching scene.
And Richard, who works with charity A Band Of Brothers, said it was a poignant moment as he has friends who have been through the same thing as Johnny, including Dan Bridge.
He added: “Through my own life I have connections with the story and stories such as these.
“I have a friend who I tried to honour through this performance. He went through a very similar story to this. But it is wider than that, this stuff is going on and on a repeated level.
“I wanted to do it well to honour the families of the RICHARD’S powerful performance was inspired by Dan Bridge – a dad whose son Flyn, 16, killed himself.
The actor met him through his work with A Band of Brothers charity.
Video producer Dan, 51, praised Corrie for tackling the issue of suicide – the biggest killer of men under 45 in fallen. I know it is going to be a harrowing watch and it is a dark story but it is a dark storyline that is trying to shine a light on something that is out there.” On Monday, viewers watched Aidan, (Shayne Ward) succumb to his demons after a relationship breakdown, work pressures and fears he would never be a dad. Richard told how he prepared for the scene by imagining Aidan as a this country. He said: “I think it’s great that Coronation Street is bringing the issue into the public eye more. Male suicide is not uncommon, but it’s not talked about enough.”
Speaking of the aftermath of Flyn’s death 14 years ago, Dan, of Brighton, added: “It was unbearable. It was like I young boy growing up – so he could portray a real sense of loss when Johnny finds his body. He said: “It was agony in a way.”
And Richard revealed he was shocked when he learned Shayne would be leaving the ITV soap.
He said: “It was immensely sad to see him go but it has brought out a depth in our friendship.”
The Corrie team worked with Samaritans and CALM to ensure the storyline was handled sensitively and realistically.
Richard’s charity A Band of Brothers encourages young men to speak out if they feel suicidal. Contact abandofbrothers.org.uk. was in an unreality, I lost days. At first I felt responsible.”
But Dan urged other parents going through the same trauma to keep a routine. He said: “It’s really important to keep going with your life, even though it may seems pointless. In time, you’ll find yourself again.”