Coronation Street ‘s Charlie Lawson has finally opened up about scattering his ex-wife’s ashes, eight years after her death
“If there’s a heaven she deserves to be there because she had a very unpleasant life," the actor told The Mirror.
The decision to scatter second wife Lesley’s ashes came when current partner Debbie convinced him it was something he needed to do to move forward.
“Debbie instigated it and told me ‘we need to do this’.
“Lesley’s sister – also called Debbie – and her husband came along and the four of us went up. My Debbie was brilliant because it was hard for her too. I’m proud of Debbie for doing what she did and I’ll never forget it.”
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Coronation Street spoilers: week 25 SLIDER
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When Bethany shows Gary a picture she took on her phone of Rick on the street looking for them, Gary's thoughts immediately turn to Sarah. With Sarah away on business, Gary goes to track her down to keep her safe.
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But Sarah lied to Bethany and Gary and is actually at a nearby hotel with Adam, spending some quality time together. When Gary tracks her wherabouts to the nearby hotel, he thinks it's proof that Rick has her.
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Meanwhile, Adam mocks Gary which makes Sarah angry, storming out of the hotel. When Gary arrives and asks the hotel staff if they've seen her, they say she left, being followed by a tall man.
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It's all the proof Gary needs. Texting Rick to say he knows he's got Sarah, Rick sees an opportunity and tells Gary to meet at a secluded woodland space, alone – if he ever wants to see Sarah alive again.
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Arriving at the remote location, Gary grows concerned when he's confronted by a shallow grave, and no sign of Sarah.
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Before he can react, Rick attacks him with a spade, pushing him to the floor. Will Gary be able to protect himself against a much bigger – and better prepared – angry Rick Neelan?
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Back in Weatherfield, Wayne and Brian are shocked when Roy angrily rejects their research into the ring, telling them to let sleeping dogs lie and not bother him about it any more. Brian realises Roy's been acting strangely since his trip to Portsmouth.
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After a heart to heart with Cathy, Roy finally opens up to his friends about whats been bothering him: the ring's history showed his mother was having an affair. He apologises to Brian and Wayne and says he would like their help researching his family history after all.
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Wayne and Brian introduce Roy to a woman called Alice Parrot, who confirms her father Raymond was having an affair with Roy's mother, Sylvia.
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Roy's hurt to learn there was a loving side to Sylvia that he never saw. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Wayne thanks Roy in earnest for showing him the compassion when they fostered him that Roy never had growing up.
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Roy is touched and shows Wayne out, and the two agree to keep in touch. Later on Roy tells Brian and Shona that he's heading to Cumbria for a few days, to finally scatter his mother's ashes, and to visit Carla.
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At Number 4, the Bailey family continue to work on their new home, but not everyone is as excited about their home improvements as they are.
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Claudia at Number 4 Aggie Bailey descend into a full on sound war through the hole in the wall.
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Determined to silence her enemy, Aggie instructs her family to make as much noise as possible, and they turn on every power tool they have at the same time. In retaliation, Claudia enlists Amy and the pair of them play violins as loudly (and badly) as possible.
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Bored of their lady-folks' petty rivalry, Ken and Ed decide to go for a drink at the Rovers. When Claudia and Aggie realise where their husbands have gone, will they follow suit?
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At the Rovers Ken and Ed are joined by Ed's son Michael. They are discussing football with Steve, Tim and Kevin when Michael lies and says not only is rising football star James his brother, he's also his manager.
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Already fans of James and the county football league, Steve, Tim and Kevin are thrilled when Michael invites them along to one of James' practises and gives them an exclusive access all areas tour.
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Everyone has a great time, but when they return to Weatherfield James is furious when he catches his older brother taking payment off the men.
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Michelle confides in Ryan how happy she and Robert are now that they're back together, promising they'll never part ways again.
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When news gets back round to Robert, he decides a grand gesture is in order, and invites friends and family to the Bistro for a surprise party for Michelle.
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When Michelle shows up the Bistro she's certainly surprised to see friends and family assembled – and ever more so when Robert gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him. Will she accept?
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Michelle excitedly arranges to meet Billy at lunch time the next day to discuss wedding plans, and Robert promises to be there. But when he's a no-show, Michelle feels familiar feelings of doubt.
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When he eventually shows up Michelle tells Robert she knows he's lying to her. Thinking on his feet, Robert tells Michelle he was at the travel agent, booking a surprise honeymoon. Will she fall for it?
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Meanwhile, Ken is getting stuck into his photography course, and refusing to be outdone, Beth decides to sign up too, despite being uninterested in photography.
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While looking after Bertie, Beth takes a candid shot of her grandson which turns out so well she decides to enter the photography competition. When she shows the picture to Sinead, Sinead is overcome with emotion and leaves the room in tears.
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Later on Sinead confides in Daniel that Bethany's picture had made her so emotional as she worries about the future. Daniel is supportive, telling Sinead she'll be around to see their son grow up.
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He continued, “We had [Lesley’s] ashes for a long time but I knew where Ellie, as I called her, wanted them to go as she had told me.
“The poor wee soul was too damaged to be here. I still miss her. Debbie is my girl but Lesley has a special part of my heart and always will have.”
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“She had a horrible end. She’d become a raging alcoholic. There was no one else involved, and we still loved each other very much, but it was becoming dangerous to be with her.
“She was living in Oxford and had a fall. Police were called a couple of days later as she’d been reported missing. They said I had to identify her. They initially thought she had been murdered, but she had died of hypothermia.
“It was awful, absolutely terrible to go and identify her because I loved her.”
The actor has played Jim McDonald on and off on Coronation Street since 1989, when he moved into Number 11 with his wife Liz and their two sons.