Eileen Grimshaw

[alan45]

Maybe he sees him at the hospital and spies his records

Bit like Gail then -d

[tammyy2j]

It has to be medical if Marcus finds out unless he is gay or bisexual

[Chloe O'brien]

If Eileen is to have arguments with another women, maybe this Paul is married or a carer for a female who has an illness and he doesn't want to tell Eileen about.

[Perdita]

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has admitted that she feared show bosses were lining up a "nasty" new love interest for her character Eileen Grimshaw.

Eileen was first tipped for a new romance storyline some time ago, and last Friday's double bill saw the plot finally begin as she was bowled over by Weatherfield firefighter Paul.

Cleaver has now told TV Times that she initially expected heartbreak for Eileen when she first heard that a love twist was on the way for the factory worker.

She explained: "I thought, 'Oh God, here we go again! This is going to be a nightmare, it'll all go horribly wrong and he'll be a nasty piece of work'. But I'm thrilled to be working with Tony Hirst, who plays Paul, and the storyline is fantastic. It hasn't been done before."

Coronation Street bosses have confirmed that Paul is hiding a big secret which could affect his chances with Eileen.

Next week's episodes see Eileen left furious when she discovers that Paul is married, but it soon transpires that the situation is much more complicated than it seems.

Cleaver added: "I can't say exactly what the situation is with Paul, but it's a really interesting dilemma… Potentially, he could be [the one]. He ticks all the boxes and he's lovely and kind. There's just one obstacle standing in their way, but it's a very big obstacle."

Coronation Street resolves the mystery of Paul's secret on Friday, October 21 at 7.30pm on ITV1.

[Perdita]

The Alzheimer's Society has praised Coronation Street for tackling the issue of dementia.

During last night's episode, it was revealed that Eileen Grimshaw's new love interest Paul has a wife suffering with Alzheimer's.

The organisation has said it hopes the storyline will raise awareness of dementia and the issues it can have on the families of those living with the condition.

Jeremy Hughes, Alzheimer's Society Chief Executive, said: "It is good to see Coronation Street featuring a dementia storyline and one that tackles such a rarely spoken about subject. If a carer develops feelings for someone else they may feel very guilty.

"Having such a high profile soap covering the issue will hopefully enable more people to feel comfortable talking about it. We know from talking to people that everyone experiences dementia differently and relationships they have are very different too."

The plot will explore Paul dealing with the guilt of his relationship with Eileen and how she copes with being the 'other woman' in the complex situation.

Tony Hirst, who plays Paul, added: "Since taking on this part, I have learnt so much more about dementia and how it affects not just the person with the condition but has an impact on the whole family. I am really enjoying the opportunity to help raise awareness about this devastating condition."

Around 750,000 people in the UK currently have dementia, an estimated 16,000 of whom are under the age of 65.

Hughes continued: "The fact that Tony's wife is in her 40s will hopefully help spread the message much further that dementia can affect younger people too. Many younger people with the condition fail to get an early diagnosis as they put off seeking help. We would encourage anyone who's worried about their memory to visit their GP."

Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen, recently claimed that the latest twist in her character's love life is a soap first.

[parkerman]

Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen, recently claimed that the latest twist in her character's love life is a soap first.

What does she mean by that exactly? Dementia has been covered before. Frank Butcher's mum, Mo, had it in Eastenders for one.

[Perdita]

What does she mean by that exactly? Dementia has been covered before. Frank Butcher's mum, Mo, had it in Eastenders for one.

But she was not so young as Shirley is

[Perdita]

...

[Chloe O'brien]

What does she mean by that exactly? Dementia has been covered before. Frank Butcher's mum, Mo, had it in Eastenders for one.

Didn't Mike Baldwin have it.

[parkerman]

Yes, he did.