Soap comes out with first gay kiss

CONFUSED Todd Grimshaw will home in to lock lips with Nick Tilsley for the first gay kiss in Coronation Street’s 43-year history.

The dramatic moment will be screened on October 5 heralding the start of a major storyline in which Todd attempts to come to terms with his sexuality.

Todd played by Bruno Langley is the first major gay character since the show began in 1960.

Over the coming weeks viewers will see the teenager struggling with life on the breadline, living with girlfriend Sarah Platt Nick's sister and her daughter Bethany.

He begins to confide in Nick and they spend an evening drinking as they put the world to rights. Todd plucks up the courage to plant a kiss as his friend drifts off, not realising the furious reaction it will provoke.

"For me as an actor it's great to do dramatic new territory for me and the programme and still a subject some people find taboo, so it is good we are tackling it in this way," said Langley.

A said: "A gay character was always going to cause some controversy so we wanted to wait until the time was right and the storyline came naturally out of the characters," said a spokeswoman for the show.

"We hope viewers will sympathise with the character of Todd. It is handled in a sensitive manner and has been written and directed for 7.30pm transmission."