Coronation Street star Alan Halsall explains Tyrone's surprise proposal decision

Coronation Street spoilers follow.

Coronation Street star Alan Halsall has opened up on Tyrone Dobbs's upcoming surprise proposal to Fiz Stape on the soap.

It's fair to say that the couple have been through quite a lot over the past few years, and in scenes airing next week, Tyrone decides it's time to pop the question again after a meeting with the school counsellor over Hope, where they're quizzed about their family.

Speaking about Tyrone's decision to get down on one knee ahead of the couple's big Christmas storyline, Alan admitted it has "been a long time coming" for the pair.

preview for Coronation Street Soap Scoop! Hope hosts a séance

"Tyrone has proposed to Fiz before but I certainly think that everything they have been through over the last couple of years has just cemented what Tyrone wants in his life; he wants Fiz as his wife and he wants that family life," he said.

"Tyrone thought he could find happiness somewhere else and he couldn’t because that happiness lies with Fiz and now he doesn’t want to hang around, he’s like, 'Let’s get a ring on it and let’s go!'"

The star noted that the couple have been on and off, recalling that Fiz and Tyrone had their first kiss 21 years ago, "which is mind-blowing when you think about it".

ITV

"They've been engaged before but things have gone wrong or money has been an issue or they’ve constantly found problems in their relationship and the timing was never right," he explained. "It certainly feels like the timing is right this time."

Alan admitted that he was "hopeful" that the pair would tie the knot one day, musing that despite them being apart at points over the years "there has always been something between Tyrone and Fiz".

"It has gone on all these years which is not something you often see on television. I think it’s nice that finally it looks like they are set to get married and I don’t think that Tyrone can wait!"

fiz stape tyrone dobbs, coronation street

ITV

He also suggested that it could be a fresh chapter for the couple, predicting: "I certainly think as a couple they are going to have a lot of chats about what a fresh start means to them because they are parents to two kids and they have a house together so it is a fresh start but with a lot of familiarity too.

"Tyrone knows that this is what he wants now and hopefully Fiz knows this is what she wants after the whole Phill situation," he added. "So that is the fresh start, they just ‘know’ now after all the troubles that they have had throughout the years, that their happiness lies with each other."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.