We’ve opened up something ..that light is there now so I hope it will go on
Soap star Richard says soap tragedy is helping people open up about taboo subject in real life
THE storyline has reduced burly, strong men to tears.
The shock of Aidan Connor taking his own life after a secret battle with depression left Coronation Street residents reeling.
In real life, it brought the issue of male suicide into focus. People started having conversations about it. It looks like it might even have been a lifesaver.
Viewers will next week see Aidan’s grieving dad Johnny burying his son.
Richard Hawley, who plays Johnny, has seen at first hand the impact that the story is having.
The 55-year-old said: “I was out the other night and a lot of men, big tough strong men, came up to me, saying I had them in tears and they get it.”
Talking about bringing the issue of male suicide into living rooms through Corrie, Richard added: “We’ve opened up something. That light is there now so I hope it will go on and people are starting the conversation.
“We knew it would have a strong, positive impact but it has been off the scale – people sharing stories, people saying that they have talked to someone because of this storyline. The scale of that has slightly shocked me. It has been incredibly moving.
“The storyline will all move on at some point but we want this moment to have a lasting effect.”
Richard’s performance is a tribute to his friend Dan Bridge, who lost his son Flyn to suicide 14 years ago.
He is proud of what he thinks the soap has achieved in bringing a scarcely talked about subject into focus.
Richard said: “It’s precious. It’s trying to prevent something happening and to start the conversation and I think it has achieved those things.
“That is what Coronation Street is founded on – there is a strong element of activism and always has been.”
Last weekend, Corrie went home triumphant from the British Soap Awards, winning most of the top awards, including best soap.
Richard said: “It was fantastic to win on Saturday night, I was very proud to be there with everyone.
“To have that recognition on the back of such amazing storylines, including Aidan’s suicide, was the icing on the cake.
“It’s brilliant to know that the viewers are invested in the show in the same way we are.”
The tears haven’t finished in Weatherfield yet. A week tonight, there will be more heartbreaking scenes as Johnny delivers an emotional eulogy, in which he says Aidan would have made a great dad.
Viewers know Toyah’s daughter Susie is really Eva and Aidan’s. Eva is so distraught, that she flees the church.
The powerful scenes will pack more emotional punch to an already very moving storyline. Richard said he enjoyed filming the scenes because they weren’t big-budget slamdunks but small human moments.
He added: “The funeral scenes were amazing to film. What I love about this storyline is it is a human domestic drama. It’s not relying on big stunts, it’s real people’s lives.
“There is some amazing writing in those scenes and, again, like all the way through this story, there are strong statements about those signs we have missed.”
Richard, who played Detective Inspector Richard Haskons alongside Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect, and lovable rouge Dave Matthews in Family Affairs in the 90s, joined Corrie three years ago.
He said: “I only came to Coronation Street thinking I would have a few pints and sort out strikes down the factory.
“It has been an immense privilege. This is probably the biggest storyline of my life, professionally. “I’m very proud of it and I think the whole building is very proud of it.
“Everybody went above and beyond because it’s personal to many, many people.”
Coronation Street is on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, STV.
It’s probably the biggest storyline of my career RICHARD HAWLEY ON AIDAN’S SUICIDE