Another Corrie star is leaving the ITV series (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Coronation Street actor Alex Bain quits after 15 years playing Simon Barlow.
The soap star will be leaving the cobbles behind in an explosive storyline after joining aged just seven, it is claimed.
A source said Alex, now 22, is sad but excited about what the future holds after the ITV soap.
‘Alex is sad to be leaving Coronation Street because it really is like a family — but he realises that the time is right to move on,’ they told The Sun.
‘He’s very excited about the future and other opportunities.’
Over the years he has been involved in some big storylines, including drug dealing, and his mother Lucy Richards (Katy Carmichael)’s death. In upcoming episodes, Simon and Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) will be involved in a car crash, and the dramatic scenes will air next year.
Alex has played Simon for 15 years (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
It’s believed that Simon offers Sam, who attends Weatherfield High, a lift to school and speeds to get him there in time. The car, however, subsequently crashes.
Alex, who became a dad at age 17 to daughter Lydia-Rose with then-girlfriend Levi Selby, isn’t the only major star leaving.
On tonight’s episode of Coronation Street, Simon’s father Peter Barlow will be leaving after 23 years after actor Chris Gascoyne decided to bow out in a bid to explore other opportunities.
Peter Barlow has been on the soap for over two decades (Picture: Danielle Baguley/ ITV)
Peter killed serial killer Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) by knocking him down with his car, and it’s taken a toll on his mental health so he decides to leave Weatherfield.
The exit scenes took two days to film and Alison King, who plays his wife and soulmate Carla Connor, admitted that she kept getting emotional as she prepared to say goodbye to Chris, 55, as well.
‘It was amazing, but it was so emotional, I did not need any tear stick for those scenes,’ she recalled.
Peter’s exit scenes took two days to film (Picture: ITV)
‘Every time we did it I literally filled up with emotion and started crying at different times in every scene. Just seeing a different look from Chris would set me off because he’s so wonderful at Meisner technique which involves an actor reacting to another actor’s performance and behaviour. He’s so reactive.
‘That’s why I’ve loved working with him so much, it’s always about the reaction. We can do things 1,000 different ways in each take and he’s so brilliant every single time. It was just a different journey and you’re absolutely spent and it’s such a roller coaster of emotions.’
Metro.co.uk have contacted ITV for comment.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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It’ll be another sad goodbye!