Tristan Gemmill says his Coronation Street character, Robert Preston, struggles to deal with his health scare because the ordeal reminds him of his father's death.
There are devastating times ahead for Robert Preston and Michelle Connor, played by Kym Marsh, as Robert tries his best to hide some troubling symptoms.
As Robert determines to avoid the repeated instances of pain he is experiencing, he draws up a training and exercise plan but Michelle is worried both that he is pushing himself too far and that he isn’t taking his symptoms seriously.
Speaking about his character's storyline, Gemmill said: "Robert is refusing to face facts but as time goes on we will see it is to do with his fear of hospitals from the time he watched his father die of cancer.
"Robert just can't handle it, he's terrified that he might go the same way as his father but he is not able to share that with the one person he really probably should share that with and that's Michelle."
"Michelle has been the voice of reason. Testicular cancer is one of the cancers that if you catch it early then you have a better chance of long term survival. In his heart of hearts he knows that," he added.
The ill health storyline comes shortly after of Rita Tanner’s brain tumour diagnosis and the news that Seb Franklin will be diagnosed with HIV meaning that several Weatherfield favourites have some traumatic and worrying months ahead.
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on TV3 and ITV.
