Coronation Street star lands major BBC role as they quit the ITV soap after 3yrs

Coronation Street’s Bill Fellows – who plays Stu Carpenter on the ITV soap – has reportedly quit after three years and is set to join the cast of BBC’s new comedy Smoggie Queens

Departing Coronation Street star Bill Fellows has signed himself up for a brand new BBC comedy series. Bill is best known for his role as Stu Carpenter on Corrie, the formerly homeless chef who was wrongfully imprisoned and later found love with Yasmeen Nazir on the cobbles.

But since losing his granddaughter Eliza when she shipped out to Germany to live with her dad, life hasn’t been the same for Stu in Weatherfield. Now actor Bill has reportedly filmed his final scenes for the soap and has landed himself a new role in a BBC comedy. It’s BBC’s new comedy series, Smoggie Queens, which follows a close-knit group of LGBTQ+ friends in Middlesborough.

**Coronation Street’s Bill Fellows – who plays Stu Carpenter on the ITV soap – has reportedly quit after three years and is set to join the cast of BBC’s new comedy Smoggie Queens**

The series will also feature Steph’s Packed Lunch presenter Steph McGovern and Drag Race’s Michelle Visage. Peaky Blinders actress Charlotte Riley is also joining the cast.

It hasn’t yet been announced who he’ll play in the new series, but in the BBC show he will also join former co-star Alexandra Mardell who played Steve McDonald’s daughter Emma Brooker in the soap. Also in the cast is Patsy Lowe, Elijah Young, Mark Benton and Phil Dunning.

It was reported back in the summer that Bill was set to quit Corrie. Bill signed a three-year contract when he joined the show and had decided early on that this was the time he wanted to do on the soap.

**It was reported in the summer that Bill was set to quit Corrie** (Image: Getty Images)

A source told The Sun : “Three years is a long time to spend playing one role and while Bill has loved his time at Corrie, he’s ready to move on.

“He told bosses earlier this year that he would like to leave at the end of his three-year contract and they have crafted an exciting exit storyline for him. He will still be on screen for some time yet but it gave him a chance to say yes to a number of jobs he was keen to do later this year.”

Bill joined Coronation Street as Stu in 2021. Stu was introduced when Kelly Neelan (Millie Gibson) encountered him while living on the streets. The character has gone on to feature in a number of key storylines over his three years in Weatherfield, having previously spent 27 years in prison after he was implicated in the death of Charlie Walker.

**Bill is best known for his role as Stu Carpenter on Corrie, the formerly homeless chef who was wrongfully imprisoned and later found love with Yasmeen Nazir on the cobbles**

Stu’s wife Lucy, who helped frame him for the murder, left him after he confessed to the crime and cut him off from his daughter Bridget. Stu’s past and family have slowly started to take centre stage in Coronation Street, with Lucy arriving in Weatherfield as well as his granddaughter.

It is yet to be revealed how exactly Stu will depart the cobbles, though it’s possible that his exit will be tied to Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan), the bully who terrorised Street teen Liam earlier this year.

Bill arrived in Corrie fresh from his success as George in international hit Ted Lasso, a role played until the Apple TV series ended. He has also starred in many other hit shows including Downton Abbey, Broadchurch and Casualty.