The actor left the soap last year
Former Coronation Street star Shayne Ward broke down in tears as he accepted two gongs at the British Soap Awards on Saturday night for Aidan Connor’s suicide storyline.
The actor scooped the award for Best Single Episode and Best Storyline for the episode where his character, Aidan, ended his own life.
Co-accepting the award with the episode's director, Sally-Ann Matthews; Shayne delivered a moving speech in which he urged men to talk more about mental health and suicide.
Fighting back tears, the 34-year-old said: “What can I say other than thank you so much. I was not expecting this, in fact, I wasn’t even meant to be coming here tonight. So thank you to the Coronation Street team for ringing me and asking me.
Addressing his fellow soap stars, he continued: “It’s amazing. As we always say it’s a collective, it is never a solo story. It was told with so much heart.
“We told it with so much truth. The impact that suicide has, it’s an ongoing thing and us guys don’t talk enough. We say it all the time, ‘It’s a little bit of banter’.
Becoming visibly emotional, Shayne added: “Behind those closed doors is the tears of a clown. You need to start talking. You really do.
“Now we use this platform to try and tackle this taboo. I want to thank every single person at Coronation Street. It was an absolute joy to play Aidan Connor and let’s just keep tackling this taboo of suicide.”
Meanwhile, Corrie legend Sue Nicholls - who has played Audrey Roberts for the past 40 years - took home the Outstanding Achievement award for her role.
Accepting the award, she said: “I am gobsmacked. I was worrying because I thought, "I have got to say something, it has to be witty and not trivial". And I am here and I still haven't thought of anything.
“But in April 1979 I got my week on Coronation Street. I had it written in my diary. And fast-forward 40 years and it would say ‘still in Coronation Street’.
“I have never planned anything in my life work-wise - I just took jobs as they came. So I was thrilled I was asked back. I can't thank everyone we will still be here in two hours. I am better in Weatherfield than in the real world.”
