Paul Dockery appeared as a Court Usher in Coronation Street in January 2007, April 2008 and March 2013. He also appeared in the BBC film Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole in My Heart in 2006 as a solicitor.
In real life he is a barrister who became involved in the programme in 2003 when he contacted Granada to point out several legal discrepancies in the storyline involving Les Battersby's trial and imprisonment for his assault on Mick Hopwood. Granada asked him to scrutinise the scripts and filming for further legal storylines in the show and, as he was on set, he also took part as an extra sat in the public gallery for court scenes. He earned "promotion" in 2007 to a speaking role as "Neil, the usher", in November 2009, he appeared as a Clerk in Weatherfield Magistrates Court for the preliminary hearing of Tony Gordon answering charges for the murder of Liam Connor and attempted murder of Roy Cropper. He appeared in Weatherfield Crown Court in May 2010 during the murder trial of Gail McIntyre, in January 2012 for Frank Foster's trial for raping Carla Connor and in October 2014 during Peter Barlow's trial for the murder of Tina McIntyre.