Michael Marlon Rodwell was a former convict who befriended Gail McIntyre in 2014 through a Restorative Justice scheme, much to the disapproval of her family. Michael and Gail entered into a relationship following his release from prison and he moved into 8 Coronation Street a few months later. A more settled Michael decided it was the right time to trace his family, but was shaken to learn that he could be suffering from a hereditary heart condition. With his diagnosis confirmed, he decided to contact his son Gavin, and slowly built up a relationship - unaware that it was actually Gavin's former flatmate Andy Carver who'd turned up using Gavin's identity, but the longer the pretence continued, it was decided to hide the truth from Michael as it was possible that the shock could kill him.