Shayne Ward was "completely heartbroken" when ‘Coronation Street’ bosses told him his character would take his own life.
The 33-year-old actor was left "instantly scared" and "nervous" when series producer Kate Oates gave him the news in December that factory boss Aidan Connor would be killed off this spring, and while he still feels emotional about the plot – which will play out next week – he is delighted ‘Corrie’ are covering the subject.
He said: "I was asked before Christmas. It’s really tough to watch. I was just full of all different emotions. I was instantly scared, I was nervous, and completely heartbroken, because I knew this was more than just a storyline.
"I knew the impact it’s going to have on the public when it airs. It’s amazing ‘Coronation Street’ is covering this.
"I’m still full of all emotions."
Shayne found it hard to watch his "very distressing" final scenes, but has praised the "clever" way the ITV soap has put the storyline together to tie in with Jack P. Shepherd’s character David Platt speaking out about being raped by fellow Weatherfield resident Josh Tucker (Ryan Clayton).
She added: "It was a very tough watch. My scenes are very distressing.
"Not everyone is going to have the same opinion on it. It’s not in your face. It’s very cleverly done.
"We’re trying to get it out there without saying, ‘You should talk.’
"We’ve done it in a very clever way with Jack and his storyline because he then realises, ‘I don’t want to die.’ It’s such an important message. It’s cleverly done by ‘Corrie’.
"Jack seems to be the one someone is expecting something to happen to. Jack is playing it incredibly, so everyone is quite worried he may head towards that, so we’ll see what happens."
The former ‘X Factor’ winner spoke to Kate – who is departing the show in June – about whether Aidan would leave a suicide note after taking his life, and they decided he would start to "build up better relationships" with his friends and family in the weeks before his death to show he’s a "good guy".
Speaking on ‘This Morning’, Shayne added: "We didn’t know how to approach the suicide note thing. A lot of people don’t leave suicide notes, some people do.
"He gives his dad a golf membership, he made sure everyone got their jobs back at the factory, he gives little Liam his expensive watch.
"Just little things, he was building up better relationships so people could see Aidan was a good guy."
Aidan’s body will be discovered by his father Johnny Connor (Richard Hawley) at his Victoria Street flat next week, after the Underworld boss fails to turn up for work at the factory. His suicide will not be shown on screen.
Shayne Ward ‘heartbroken’ by Aidan suicide storyline
