Millions of Coronation Street fans will be saddened to watch vicar Billy Mayhew deliver his final sermon after 11 years leading his Weatherfield congregation, but actor Daniel Brocklebank explains why he isn’t upset.
Coronation Street’s vicar Billy Mayhew may be leaving the cobbles, but the actor behind him, Daniel Brocklebank, admits he hasn’t shed a tear—mainly because he’s been far too busy. Just 40 minutes after receiving raucous applause from 150 cast and crew members, he dashed from the set to a Manchester theatre to begin rehearsals for his next role in the cult comedy classic Young Frankenstein.
“I don’t think I’ve ever finished one job and started another on the same day,” he laughs. “I left the Coronation Street studio at ten to one on Tuesday last week and by half past one I was in rehearsals for Young Frankenstein. My feet literally didn’t touch the ground.
“I’m in Young Frankenstein for five weeks, and maybe after that I’ll have a chance to process everything. It’s a huge change after 11 years in one place—there’s a lot to take in. I will miss Billy. Playing someone for that long feels like having two lives, but it’s the people I’ll miss most—the camaraderie with the cast and crew.”
Daniel’s exit from the soap was confirmed in the summer, though he had been considering it for about a year. “I’d spoken to my partner and said, ‘maybe it’s time,’” he recalls. “As an actor, I thrive on challenges, and I’d been keeping quiet in my last year there. After the Motor Neurone Disease storyline, which I’m probably most proud of, I wondered what else was left for Billy.
“He could move into another relationship, his daughter Summer could get married, he could become a grandfather. But after that MND storyline with his husband Paul, which had such a huge impact, I couldn’t imagine what could happen to him that hadn’t already been explored.
“Billy’s had a colourful 11 years—he’d battled addiction, adopted a child, married, had the show’s first-ever same-sex wedding, and lost his husband. Earlier this year, I was in a show at the Palladium, and it reminded me there’s a whole world outside the Weatherfield bubble.”
Then in June, Coronation Street’s producer called Daniel in to let him know that Billy would be written out of the show. He recalls: “They explained it was purely a storyline decision, which happens all the time. It felt completely right, so I took it philosophically. At the end of the day, it’s just a job, and no character is bigger than the show.
“We only sign one-year contracts, and I don’t think anyone would realistically expect to stay forever—it’s a recipe for disappointment. Shows change, producers want to introduce new faces, and characters who’ve run their course are written out; that’s just how it works.
“What was really lovely was that when the news hit the press, I received so many messages from producers and directors I’ve worked with over the years saying, ‘This is great news! When are you free? I’ve got something coming up and I’ll be thinking of you.’ It was reassuring to know I hadn’t been forgotten by them.”
One of those calls came from the producers of Young Frankenstein: The Musical, who offered Daniel the lead role of Dr Frederick Frankenstein, the heir to his grandfather’s Transylvanian castle. A musical comedy-horror based on the 1974 film by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, Daniel will star in the show for a limited five-week engagement at the Liverpool Playhouse over the Christmas season.
“It’s fun and quirky,” he smiles. “My character actually puts a brain into a seven-foot green monster! The script is a little cheeky—old-school humour, which I love—and there are brilliant songs and even tap dancing. I wanted to take a different path after leaving Coronation Street. Usually, people might do a panto or dabble in reality TV, but I’m not really interested in going off to chew on a kangaroo’s… you know… in the jungle!
“I wanted something that would challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone, and Young Frankenstein is doing both. It’s been exciting to work with a wonderful new company of people, and part of the fun is that I’m playing someone so completely different from Billy. When you play one character for so long, you almost become synonymous with them—even though I’m nothing like Billy.”
The details of how and when Billy leaves Weatherfield remain tightly under wraps, but Daniel says he was thrilled with the scripts. “Billy’s exit is fitting for a character who’s been at the heart of the show for much of his time, and I’m really happy with how it’s been written,” he smiles.
“The last scene I filmed was on the street, and 150 cast and crew members came out to wave and hug me. Harriet Bibby, who plays my daughter Summer, was very emotional, bless her. It’s a poignant moment—saying goodbye to a chapter of your life. I didn’t cry myself, mostly because I didn’t want the cast of Young Frankenstein to meet me as a blubbering mess!”
Away from acting, Daniel enjoys life on the move in his camper van, hiking, walking his three sausage dogs—Colin, Jean, and Doris—and tending to his allotment near the Manchester home he shares with his partner of two years, singer Jordan Coulthard. He began acting at 14, landing the lead role in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Lord of the Flies, and by 19 he appeared in the Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love.
His other screen credits include The Hours, alongside Meryl Streep, and he has worked with stars such as Dustin Hoffman, Kirsten Dunst, and Sam Neill. He joined Coronation Street in 2014 at the age of 34 and, despite his long tenure, feels confident about what the future holds.
“I think if Corrie had been all I’d ever known, I would’ve been terrified about existing outside the show. But I had 22 years of experience before joining, so I know I can continue beyond it. After Young Frankenstein, there are already projects in the works for next year, including a horror film and a short in Jersey—which is exciting, considering I only finished Corrie last week.”
“In 65 years of Coronation Street, only two actors—Bill Roache and Barbara Knox—have spent their entire careers on the show, while hundreds, maybe thousands, have come and gone. David Neilson (Roy Cropper) put it perfectly when he said, ‘Although it’s sad that you’re leaving us, you’ve got to remember this is the beginning.’ And he was right.”
“This really is the start of the next chapter of my life. I’m only 45. I’ve loved every moment of Corrie and will cherish it forever, but it’s great to be challenged, and I’m excited to get back out there. I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. The universe delivers what you need at the right time, and I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
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