‘My final episode’: TV legend who has worked on Coronation Street for decades confirms exit
Award-winning Coronation Street screenwriter Jonathan Harvey has left the ITV soap after two decades.
He may not be a name that is instantly recognisable, but his distinct, quick-witted style of scripts will be much-missed.
Since 2004 he’s penned 331 of them – with the final episode airing last night.
The instalment continued to explore Billy Mayhew’s (Daniel Brocklebank) grief on the day of his husband Paul Foreman’s (Peter Ash) funeral. He then went on to mistakenly kiss ex-boyfriend Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) when drowning his sorrows in Victoria Gardens.
Elsewhere, Fiz (Jennie McAlpine) and Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) decided to terminate her pregnancy, and Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) made a huge blunder online – revealing that her great granddaughter Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) had undergone liposuction.
Confirming the news on X, Jonathan wrote: ‘My last episode of Corrie is on tonight. Paul’s funeral.
‘Jan McVerry’s written the first half and me the second. Sure it’ll all be plain sailing and everyone’ll get on and it’ll all be lovely.’
Last month, he confirmed he’d ‘stepped back’ as he wanted a break, though at the time still had two eps still to be broadcast.
When asked if he’d ever return, he replied: ‘I actually left five months ago but it’s shot so far in advance it’s taken til now to air my last one! Needed a break after twenty years. Hopefully I’ll be back!’
One fan added: ‘Going to miss your episodes a lot!’
‘Hope it won’t be your final final ep – perhaps the wheel will turn again at some point – but thank you for bringing so so many moments of joy to a show that is in the psyche of the nation…’ said another.
Jonathan started his career as a secondary school teacher, before branching off as a playwright in 1987.
One of his most memorable productions is Beautiful Thing, a story following two gay teenagers that live next-door to each other on a council estate in Thamesmead, London.
In 1996 it was adapted into a major film, starring future soapstars Linda Henry and Tameka Empson many years before Shirley Carter and Kim Fox arrived in EastEnders.
Linda was pictured catching up with Jonathan last month, almost two years on from her ‘temporary’ exit playing out.
He found later success with Kathy Burke vehicle Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and fellow BBC sitcom Beautiful People, which also starred Empson.
Initially reluctant to join the Coronation Street team, he went onto guide Granada staff with Todd Grimshaw’s coming-out story before becoming part of the regular pool of writers.
