All this nonsense about not wanting to tell him the truth because of his dodgy ticker and it might kill him. However they are fine with making up a pregnancy only to let him down, fake a mugging and allow him to stress at the wedding.

For once can a character not keep a secret and tell someone without it dragging.

Aww come on...don't spoil the fun

I like Gandy and Steph bumbling about not knowing what to do

Heartily agree, callumf. If only the writers could resist the temptation to go down the path of - someone decides to keep a secret - secret gets bigger - lies pile up - leads to dramatic revelation, where the innocent person is now as bad as the guilty one - how can I trust you - no future for us - you're dumped - ho hum.

........and nobody ever stops speaking/hurling accusations long enough to listen to any explanations!
Michael wouldn't listen to Gail -
Gail wouldn't listen to Steph and Gandy.......

Absolutely! Corrie Rules state that you have to instantly assume the worst of people that up til now you've respected/ loved deeply / been friends with for decades etc

Unless of course they happen to be violent / thieving / manipulative toe rags, in which case you won't hear a word against them.

I agree just spit it out!!!

It's another of those annoying soap clichés. On no account must any character be allowed to simply explain what's happened; instead there has to be a reason - any reason - to keep it secret so that complications will inevitably follow.

Remember the shock could kill Michael

Well just suddenly blurting it out could finish him off, agreed, but surely not if it was explained calmly and gently, but then there wouldn't be a storyline.

They can't expect to keep this from him forever so surely the shock of not just Andy not being Gavin but also that everyone else knew will be far more damaging for him