Shayne Ward
“Aidan is an ‘everyman’ figure that men can identify with”
Talking could have turned Aidan’s life around,” laments actor Shayne Ward, as he joins Inside Soap for what is his last Coronation Street chat. “It could have brought him relief from whatever he was going through, which is what his loved ones would have wanted. Suicide is a very permanent response to what are usually temporary problems.”
Certainly some viewers will watch Aidan’s story and think, ‘But he seemed fine’ – and that is exactly why Street bosses chose a character who, on the surface, appeared to be so grounded and ordinary. Likewise, writing out a likeable and popular media figure such as X Factor winner Shayne seemed odd at first, yet now it all becomes clear…
How did you feel when you heard Aidan would die from suicide?
When you’re given a storyline like this, it is a decision that is not taken lightly – and I have played it with as much truth as I could. It’s an honour to have been trusted with it, and it shows the confidence the Corrie team had in me to be able to play it. Aidan is an ‘everyman’ figure that men can identify with, which is important. We have all heard stories like Aidan’s when it was too late, when people looked back and wished they had spotted the signs, but it isn’t always possible. If we can encourage someone who is feeling low to realise they need to talk, then we have achieved what we set out to do.
For how long has Aidan been experiencing these feelings?
He had planned to do it sooner, though when Carla needed a kidney, he saw a chance to do something good. By that point Aidan had decided he was going to take his own life and posted a letter – but after he found out about Carla, he intercepted the letter the next day from the postman outside his dad’s f lat.
After his kidney transplant, viewers saw Aidan break down in hospital…
Yes, there was a moment when he was in bed after the operation crying, but he kept all of that from his family. There were no telltale signs. Everyone around him was so happy that it had been successful, and he didn’t want to burden anyone with his thoughts.
Was it sad for you knowing that Aidan’s death would mean a permanent exit from the Street?
As an actor I was honoured to be given the responsibility of this storyline. The bosses sat me down and said they were thinking of exploring this issue – and I could have said no. But after talking it through, there was a greater pull to want to do the storyline. I will miss playing Aidan and working with the fantastic people on this show, but it is a hugely important story to tell.
I will miss playing Aidan – but this is an important story to tell…
Was it hard to switch off after filming your final scenes?
I had a few emotional scenes, and it was important to get out of that mindset and shake it off at the end of a day’s filming. I have always been able to deal with a lot of pressure, which goes back to my singing days. I was 21 when I did The X Factor and I had been working from the age of 16, so I was prepared for the pressure it brought. It helps being part of a big family, too – I’m one of seven, and the one the others take advice from.
Are you good at opening up and talking about your feelings?
With Aidan I brought a lot of myself to playing him, but he is different from me. I believe in talking, and encourage my friends and family to talk to me if they are going through a hard time.
Will you watch your final episode?
Yes, and my family have said they want to watch it, too. And that is the point: if they didn’t want to watch it, they’d be falling into the bracket of ignoring the issue. Hopefully it’ll spark conversations among viewers. They may be difficult conversations – but they are important.