Corrie’s Richard Hawley looks low-key as he arrives for day of filming in a flat cap and black coat

Coronation Street star Richard Hawley arrived at Manchester’s MediaCity on Wednesday after a charity slammed his character’s multiple sclerosis storyline. 

Wrapping up in a black coat teamed with jeans, trainers and a stylish flat cap, the actor, 66, kept the chill at bay as he prepared for a day of filming on the iconic set. 

Listening to music through a pair of white headphones, Richard – who plays Johnny Connor – flashed photographers a smile, despite his character coming under fire last week.

One of Johnny’s recent plotlines came under scrutiny after writers linked the character’s Charles Bonnet Syndrome and multiple sclerosis diagnoses.

Last week, showrunners associated Johnny’s CBS with his MS, despite the latter rarely leading to the former.

Ed Holloway, of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, said of the plotline: ‘We’ve been providing extensive information about MS to programme researchers since Johnny Connor first developed MS in 2017.

‘When asked for our advice regarding Charles Bonnet Syndrome we said it was highly unlikely someone would develop the condition.

‘We’ve written to the show to express our concerns.’

In February, Richard himself opened up about Johnny’s CBS diagnosis after his character experienced hallucinations.

‘Once you have a diagnosis of Charles Bonnet syndrome things can get a little better simply because you know what it is,’ the actor told Digital Spy.

‘What happens is your brain makes up images because it is not getting enough information because of reduced eyesight.’

He added: ‘There is no attendant feeling of anything else. It is just simply hallucination, it can be an unpleasant one or it could be a pleasant one or both.’