Headway Works With Soap On Brain Injury Storyline

Actor Ben Price has spoken out about how a brain injury storyline has affected him and how he worked with leading brain injury charity, Headway UK to portray the storyline as realistically as possible.

Ben’s Coronation Street character, Nick Tilsley, was involved in a car crash with his brother, David in scenes that were aired last month. The accident leaves Nick in a coma and his loved ones uncertain as to whether or not he will wake up.

Over the next few weeks, soap fans will see Nick awaken from his coma after undergoing an operation to remove a blood clot on his brain. However, there will be no more ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ Nick and the extent of his brain damage and change to his personality will become clear as the storyline is played out.

Character Has A Personality Change Due To Car Crash

In an interview with the Sun newspaper the actor said that the ‘consequences of the crash are significant and his anger is off the scale.’ He added: “His character totally flips. He gets obsessive and he isn’t rational at all. When the girls fuss over him, he reacts very, very angrily – every part of him is floundering.

In the newspaper article, the actor also comments on the hidden ways in which having a brain injury can affect you and those around you. He said: “Physically a person can look the same after time but under the surface, their personality can change.”

Impact Of A Brain Injury

He also says that playing the role has made him think about his own life and made him realise how lucky he is not to have suffered a brain injury. He said: “It made me see how tough it is for families. It affects relationships so much – it’s not just about the survival, it is about the years ahead.

The Coronation Street team, including script writers, met up with leading brain injury experts from Headway UK in order to find out more about the realistic consequences of a brain injury. Luke Griggs, who is Communications Manager at Headway UK said the communications team had worked with a number of different soap operas and their brain injury storylines over the years.

He said: “We’re grateful to Coronation Street for consulting with Headway in an attempt to make the storyline as realistic as possible and we hope the storyline will lead to greater awareness of brain injury.”

Making A Brain Injury Compensation Claim

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury then depending on the extent, there could be life-changing consequences. Brain injuries can be complex and affect people in a number of different ways, often in ways that are not immediately obvious.

If your brain injury occurred as a result of someone else’s negligence then you could be able to make a compensation claim. Car accidents, physical assaults and medical negligence are often ways in which brain injuries occur.

For more information please call us today on 0333 358 3034 or complete our online claim form.

Published 13th February 2015.