ITV’s iconic soap Coronation Street has been labelled as in crisis after multiple stars quit the soap and others were axed, with fans fearful that the show might not survive
Coronation Street is in crisis after multiple exits and shock axing.
The ITV soap marked its 60th anniversary just over four years ago but there are real fears the soap is in crisis after multiple exits and axes, with fan favourites like Eileen Grimshaw ( Sue Cleaver ) and Daisy Midgeley ( Charlotte Jordan ) all leaving the show.
Late last year, new show boss Kate Brooks warned of some unexpected exits ahead. She warned: “There are a few exits this year, and some unexpected ones that will send shockwaves. People might not expect the exits, but there are a few.”
In just the last few weeks, there have been a huge wave of exits and shock axes and also reports of frustrated Coronation Street stars fuming over the changes in secret WhatsApp groups. It had been claimed that some were fuming over it being less “fun” on the set, with cast reportedly working longer days – and a focus on keeping the highest paid stars.
Here’s all the cast that have been confirmed to be leaving – or have already left.
Helen Worth (Gail Platt)
Helen Worth has left her role of Gail Platt (Image: ITV)
Gail departed the Cobbles on Christmas Day, alongside recently returned Jesse Chadwick. Helen decided to quit the show after a whopping five decades on screen. At the time her exit was announced, Helen admitted it was the “perfect” time to go.
Speaking about her exit, which saw Gail get her happy ending and move to France, she said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.
“I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding. I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew. The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw)
Eileen Grimshaw is leaving the Cobbles
Gail’s rival and Corrie icon Sue Cleaver is also bidding farewell to the Cobbles after 25 years.
Explaining her decision to leave the show, Sue teased a potential return. Expressing her desire to make a change, she said: “I’ve had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street. The door is still firmly open but as I reached my 60th year, I decided it was time to embrace change, look for new adventures and live fearlessly.”
As part of her exit storyline, Katy Cavanagh is making her return as Julie Carp. She said: “We’ve literally started filming that, it’s going to be emotional, it’s going to be hard, I’ve got a lot of friends there, I will still have a connection to it.”
Colson Smith (Craig Tinker)
Colson Smith plays Craig Tinker (Image: ITV)
Colson was one of the big names to be axed from Coronation Street after 14 years on the show.
Speaking on his podcast with friends and colleagues Jack P Shephard and Ben Price, he said: “The hardest bit was walking down the stairs knowing you two were there. I just stood in the doorway of the green room and just looked at you two.
“The thing I’m going to miss more than anything in the world isn’t Craig Tinker, it’s the green room. I have learned everything about life in that building. Every good day I’ve had in my life and every bad day I’ve had in my life, I’ve been in there.”
Colson found out last year he’d be leaving the show. In a post on social media, he added: “Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinkers time on the Cobbles is to come to end in 2025. I’ve LOVED every single second of my 14 year stay as a resident on the GREATEST street in the world. I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in, on and around Coronation Street. I’ve learnt pretty much everything about life from the people who call it home. I’m excited to play out the exit story for Our Craigy. For Me, this is just the end of the beginning. I genuinely can’t wait to see what chapter 2 has in store for me. LONG LIVE THE COBBLES!”
Luca Toolan (Mason Radcliffe)
Mason died in tragic scenes (Image: ITV)
Mason bowed out of the ITV soap in tragic scenes to kick off the New Year on the Cobbles. He had planned to run away to Germany to work with Stu Carpenter – who also recently left – but in sad scenes, his brothers killed him with a knife in a fight.
Speaking about his big exit storyline, Luca had said: “Of course when I first heard there was a mixture of emotions because I was sad that Mason was going to die and that means I would be leaving, but equally I was really excited and honoured to be part of this storyline because it’s an incredibly important issue that needs to be tackled. I feel so privileged to have had this opportunity to start my professional career at Coronation Street and what a great time I’ve had.”
His final scenes were “exhausting” to film, with Luca admitting: “It was exhausting to film but amazing. I was so focused and a storyline like this is what you crave as an actor. I love the long days and working my butt off and even filming outside in the cold.
“Every single day I would wake up and be absolutely buzzing to go to work. The full crew were so supportive and created an environment that you could put yourself in that emotional headspace and get on with it. It was an experience filming those scenes.”
Lucy Fallon (Bethany Platt)
Bethany will temporarily leave the Cobbles as Lucy goes on maternity leave (Image: ITV)
Bethany Platt may have not long returned to Weatherfield but Lucy Fallon will be temporarily written out of the show whilst the actress goes on maternity leave. Amid a big storyline with her partner Daniel Osbourne and his ex Daisy Midgeley, it looks like Bethany could make a move to London to follow her dream job.
Back in August last year, it was announced Lucy was pregnant with her second child. Speaking about her making a return to the show last year, she shared: “I needed that time away. I didn’t go and do an awful lot of work stuff. But I feel like I did quite a lot of life stuff.
“‘I just needed that. I don’t regret leaving at all. It was definitely the right thing for me to do at the time. But then, it was the right thing for me to come back, too. I felt different and a bit weird on my first day.”
Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley)
Daisy is currently pregnant on the soap
Daisy star Charlotte has also announced she is leaving the show after four years in the fan favourite role.
Speaking about her decision to go, she said: “My time at Coronation Street is something I’ll always cherish. After a brilliant four years for Daisy, it’s time for me to start a new chapter and explore other opportunities.”
Little is known about the exit storyline for Daisy but we do know she is pregnant. However, she is unsure whether her ex Daniel Osbourne or current partner Kit Green is the father of the little one.
A source said of her decision to leave: “Charlotte has loved her time on the cobbles but is young, ambitious and hungry to see what else is out there for her. She told bosses last April that her next contract would be her last, giving them a year to craft an exciting exit storyline. She’s still filming now and her final scenes will play out in early summer. She’s adored by cast and crew and will be missed.”
Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster)
Debbie will leave the Cobbles in a tragic storyline (Image: ITV)
Debbie will be diagnosed with dementia in a sad exit storyline for actress Sue Devaney.
“Sue is a total professional and is already putting her all into what she sees as hugely important long running storyline. She saw the positive impact of the MND storyline and hopes that her dementia story can have the same effect and raise awareness of the condition,” an insider told The Mirror of the big storyline which will spell Debbie’s exit from the Cobbles.
Debbie has been at the centre of some big storylines in the soap since joining in 2019.
Shelley King (Yasmeen Metcalfe)
Shelley plays Yasmeen on the soap (Image: ITV)
Yasmeen star Shelley has become the most recent name to announce their departure from the show.
“This will be another blow for fans of the show, as Yasmeen is a much-loved character who’s part of the fabric of Corrie. She’s had some huge storylines since she joined the soap in 2014, and she’ll be sorely missed by cast and crew. It’s understood she is leaving so she can explore other projects,” a source said of her departure.
Shelley had been on the show since 2014 and will make her exit this year in big scenes.
Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer)
Evelyn is off to study away from the Cobbles (Image: ITV)
Evelyn will be making a temporary exit from the show – but fans will be glad to know its not permanent.
“I’ll be absent for a while and then coming back. I’m not going to die, but then I’ll be in and out of it because I want to have a bit of a life. David and I are thinking of having a bit of a gap year,” she explained.
Evelyn has decided to move into university halls whilst she studies for a law degree at university.
She added last year: “I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say but Evelyn will be going off to do something interesting and unusual – which is my idea. I don’t know how it will play out but I wish to hell that we could have a spin-off of what happens to her. I’m not dying. I haven’t fallen in the Manchester Ship Canal so I will be probably coming back until I’m wheeled off set.”
*Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV1 and ITVX.
