Coronation Street’s Michael Rodwell could be about to break wife Gail’s heart as well as his own when he collapses after kissing Eileen Grimshaw behind her back.
The newlywed will be reeling from the shock of finding out that his real son Gavin is actually dead and the son he thought he had is an imposter, when he goes round to see Eileen (Sue Cleaver) and commiserate about her own relationship breakdown.
Michael (Les Dennis) and Eileen end up getting amorous over a glass of wine, but the guilt makes his heart condition kick in and soon he's collapsed on the floor.
Eileen (Sue Cleaver) and Michael (Les Dennis) share a kiss (ITV)
According to the Radio Times, Sue said: “They’ve always got on really well when working together, but Eileen hasn’t really thought of Michael in that way before. So this has taken her by surprise.
“It seems that the heat of the moment is too much for Michael. Couple that with the stress of the day and he ends up collapsing onto Eileen’s sofa.”
When Eileen’s nemesis Gail (Helen Worth) turns up in search of her husband, she is shocked to see the state he is in – but both Michael and Eileen are determined to keep the kiss a secret.
Eileen’s (Sue Cleaver) moment has a bad effect on Michael (Les Dennis) (ITV)
Sue said: “Eileen has to confide in the doctor what was happening at the time of his collapse, but Michael and Eileen have both agreed not to tell Gail about their kiss.
“So it is very awkward with the two of them at his bedside and Gail asking questions about what exactly happened leading up to his collapse.”
Michael (Les Dennis) and Eileen (Sue Cleaver) have a secret to keep from Gail (Helen Worth) (ITV)
The actress added that it would add another chapter to the saga of Eileen and Gail’s feud: “I think this is almost inevitable. The writers love having them as enemies, so when Gail finds out about Eileen and Michael it will no doubt lead to more arguments and maybe another fight. The fight on the street is the scene that so many people remember, so we have set the bar high.
“It’s great to do those scenes, Helen and I get on really well and have known each other for years, so it’s fun to play the opposite of that. There are some great one-liners, too. I think this feud is going to run and run.”
