Hayley Cropper to become a Daddy
From todays Mirror
CORONATION Street fans are set for a summer shocker when transsexual Hayley Cropper discovers she has a son.
And the secret will test her relationship with cafe boss Roy Cropper to the full because he believed she had never had a relationship with anyone else.
Bosses are doing final auditions for the part of Hayley's son - a handsome chap now in his early 20s - who will first appear on ITV in August.
A Corrie executive said: "It is going to be one of the show's best ever storylines. We believe it will rocket the ratings because of the heartbreak and drama of it all."
Julie Hesmondhalgh and David Neilson are delighted at being centre stage in the dramatic story which will run throughout the summer.
The source said: "Julie and David both play brilliant parts and they are going to love these emotional and hearttugging scenes. Everyone concerned is extremely excited at this development.
"There will be so much emotion involved that people will find themselves totally wrapped up in what is going to happen."
Hayley does not know she fathered a son before having a sex change.
Then an elderly relatives dies leaving letters from the boy.
Stunned Hayley starts a harrowing search to trace him. But when she does find him, he does not know anything about his father. He believes she is charming and friendly long-lost relative.
Hayley is determined to tell him the truth. And it's devastating for Roy who thought Hayley was a virgin both as a man and a woman.
The source said: "For Roy to find out about a son means their relationship was built on a lie. Can you imagine the trauma for all involved - the boy, Roy, Hayley.
"Street fans know how desperate Roy and Hayley have always been to have children of their own - they've fostered and looked after kids but never been able to have a permanent child in their lives.
"So it will be doubly hard for poor Roy. It will mean a rocky summer ahead.
The source added: "Will the Cropper's marriage survive? Will the son want to know the person who is a woman but who is his dad?
"Can Roy every believe anything Hayley tells him again? There are so many things that have to be understood that emotions will be high for a very long time."
Corrie favourite to be brutally attacked
Coronation Street favourite Hayley Cropper will be assaulted by her long-lost son, in scenes to be broadcast on the ITV1 soap next month.
The transsexual factory worker, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, will soon discover that she fathered Christian 20 years ago when she was a man. After learning about the shocking family secret, Hayley finds her son with help from a private investigator, but decides to pretend that she is his aunt.
However, Hayley struggles to cope with the guilt of lying to Christian (Andrew Turner), and eventually arranges to meet him at a remote beauty spot to break the news. Stunned by her revelation, Hayley's son lashes out, brutally attacking her.
A source told The Sun: "Christian is utterly devastated. He believed her when she said she was his aunty and had accepted her as a new part of his family. But once she comes clean, he can't control his anger and just lashes out at her. It's a pretty gruesome scene - and there is plenty of blood."
Corrie's Hayley taking one-year break
Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh has requested a one-year break from the soap.
The actress, who plays Weatherfield favourite Hayley Cropper, has been filming an emotionally draining storyline recently - and insiders have claimed that she wants time away because she is feeling "worn out".
Hesmondhalgh is hoping to spend more time with her husband Ian Kershaw and six-year-old daughter Martha.
A show insider told The Mirror: "Julie approached producers about taking some time off and they were more than happy to agree because she's worked so hard for the show. We had enough time to come up with a superb way to write her out for however long we need to. Viewers will miss her but we can assure them she'll be back."
In a recent episode, transsexual Hayley discovered that she fathered a son twenty years ago. A forthcoming episode will see her being brutally attacked when her son discovers the truth.
Julie's final scenes, which see Hayley heading to Africa to help underprivileged children, will air next month.
