SAD FAREWELL Coronation Street villain breaks silence on mass cast exodus on ITV soap which has left fans reeling
A CORONATION Street star has opened up on cast changes at the ITV soap amid huge departures.
Chris Harper notably portrayed cobbles villain Nathan Curtis, who groomed Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) when she was 16.
The actor has reappeared in the soap numerous times since he first stepped out onto the cobbles of Coronation Street in 2016, with his major storyline seeing him work with the NSPCC to deliver a dramatic and impactful grooming narrative.
Meanwhile, Chris is working with the NSPCC for Number Day, which is on February 7 and aimed at getting primary school children interested in maths.
Viewers watched last year as Nathan returned to screens after serving his prison sentence.
In an exclusive chat with us, Chris opened up on the impact of Coronation Street and how viewers might feel seeing their favourite stars exiting.
He explained: “I think through the charity stuff I was able to see I was able to see the impact that Coronation Street has in terms of people’s living space and living rooms and where that is in their hearts.
“And so with all of those faces, they’re familiar faces, whether you’re really listening or you’re getting on with cooking, whatever. Every day you see those faces.
“In terms of the sort of emotional attachment to those faces, you know, I think when they go, you miss them.”
He continued: “I mean, to be honest, I’m such a softie. I read a novel and will fall in love with the characters and I’ll be on a train platform two weeks later wondering how they’re getting on.
“No, no, no, that was a book, Chris. You can’t text them and say still thinking of you.
“So I think it’s the same with those characters, particularly, you know, they’ve been lovable.
Coronation Street villain reveals he’s QUIT soap and his dramatic final scenes have already aired
“They’ve been angry. We’ve seen them upset. We’ve seen them happy. We’ve seen them go through so many things.
“So when they suddenly disappear from our lives. Yeah, it’s always a bit of a shift.”
The comments come as some of the ITV soap’s biggest names have quit including Shelley King who is leaving after 11 years on the TV programme.
Another key face leaving is Charlotte Jordan, 28, who plays Rovers barmaid Daisy Midgeley, who will bow out later this year.
An exclusive source revealed to us that many other stars are considering leaving before they might be axed, as a schedule change up puts pressure on the soap.
The Sun told how Corrie bosses have reduced the show from six episodes per week, to just five 30-minute episodes.
As many as 75 people will lose their jobs across both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, which is also struggling amid the budget issues – and it seems even the biggest names aren’t immune from the soap’s cash crisis.
Insiders tell us that the stars have known for a while that changes were coming, but it’s left many feeling disgruntled and concerned about their future on the flailing soap.
Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025
ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.
This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.
Colson Smith – Craig Tinker
The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.
Sue Cleaver – Eileen Grimshaw
After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I’m A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she’s already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.
Luca Toolan – Mason Radcliffe
Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.
Sue Devaney – Debbie Webster
In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.
Charlotte Jordan – Daisy Midgeley
The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she’s hungry to see what other opportunities await.
Shelley King – Yasmeen Metcalfe
The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.
A TV source said: “Rumours of a schedule change had been rumbling for a while so it wasn’t a huge surprise to the cast but now the news is out there it is starting to feel very real.
“Some of the cast have gone into panic mode and are really considering their futures.
