Helen Flanagan confirms Coronation Street departure date

Helen Flanagan has confirmed the date she will leave the cobbles for maternity leave.

The Coronation Street star is expecting her second child with partner Scott Sinclair, which she announced late last year.

In a new Instagram post, Flanagan shared a snap of herself with on-screen mum Sally Dynevor on set.

The caption confirms it is her last month on set, which – as Coronation Street films around six weeks in advance – we can take to mean Rosie Webster will be off screen from around June.

She said: “Love this pic we took the other day on set, love this lady 💗xxx my last month @coronationstreet before my maternity leave going to miss everyone so much especially my screen mum and sister @brookelevivincent 💗”.

Flanagan also confirmed the break will only be temporary, adding: “definitely want to return as Rosie just not sure when that will be 👶❤️xxx”.

Coronation Street’s Tina O’Brien talks dark male rape storyline

Tina O’Brien has discussed how an upcoming dark storyline on Coronation Street will affect the Platt family.

O’Brien plays Sarah Platt on the soap, the sister of David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), who will suffer a sexual assault at the hands of newcomer Josh Tucker (Ryan Clayton). The dark new storyline has been making headlines over the past few weeks, with some former Corrie actors calling it too dark.

In tonight’s episode (Friday, March 16), David is drugged and raped while drinking with a man he considers a friend.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, O’Brien explained that David will struggle to speak out about what happened to him.

She said: “I think the Platt family is going to really go through the mill with David having gone through what he’s gone through. At the moment, the way it’s playing, nobody knows what’s happened. It’s a very solitary situation, and he doesn’t want to talk about it. He doesn’t want to address it, he doesn’t want to even admit that it’s happened.”

However, the strange behaviour will signal to Sarah and the rest of the Platt family that something is wrong.

O’Brien added: “And so for the other Platt members, we’re kinda just left wondering why he’s behaving like this, this is really odd and not like him. That in itself has been quite interesting, and I think going forward hopefully it’ll be really interesting to see how David takes what’s happened to him and how he reacts to it.”

WATCH: Kym Marsh gives tour of new Coronation Street set

Kym Marsh has given Good Morning Britain viewers the first look at the new Coronation Street set.

The Coronation Street star met up with Good Morning Britain‘s Richard Arnold today (March 12), to give daytime TV audiences the first glimpse of the new set.

Work on the new set, which includes a new police station and courthouse, began in 2017.

In a filmed segment, Arnold told viewers: “A lot of the cast haven’t even seen this part of the street yet.”

The new extension will include a new restaurant, tattoo parlour, tram station, snooker hall, community garden and police station.

Marsh led Arnold to a new Pakistani street food restaurant called ‘Speed Daal’, which she assured viewers offered very good value for money despite the fact a curry is listed as £8.

The pair also joke about the name of new tattoo parlour Tattoo Will Do Nicely on their mini tour.

Marsh said: “Tattoo Will Do Nicely. What a great name!”

Arnold adds: See what they did there.

Watch the full tour here:

Coronation Street cast pay tribute to “wonderful” and “genuine” Liz Dawn

Former colleagues have paid tribute to Coronation Street legend Liz Dawn, who has died at the age of 77.

Dawn portrayed Vera Duckworth on the soap for 34 years from August 1974 to January 2008, returning for a one-off episode in 2010. She died at home on Monday (September 25), surrounded by loved ones.
 
A family statement said: “We are devastated and heartbroken at the passing of our much-loved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, the incredible Liz Dawn. She has been the love, light and inspiration in our lives and we are bereft at her passing.”
 
The news has left the cast of Coronation Street heartbroken, as they rushed to pay their respects to the star.
 
Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Webster, said: “Liz was an amazing woman.  She achieved so much in her life through her role in Coronation Street and her charity work. She was such a giving person who always thought about other people before herself.  She was an inspiration of how to be in life and I’m going to miss her.”

Meanwhile, Jennie McAlpine, who portrays Fiz Brown, said: “If ever there was an actress that I wanted to be like most, it would be Liz Dawn. Every time we met she asked after everyone. She was genuinely interested in how everyone was doing. I’ll miss her asking how I am. She was loved by us all.”

Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald in the soap, described Liz as “a warm, very funny, lovely lady who loved everyone she worked with.”

He added: “She touched the hearts of everyone she met and gave so much back with her charity work. She will be missed so much.”

 Kevin Webster actor Michael Le Vell described Dawn’s Vera and on-screen husband Bill Tarmey’s Jack as the “foundations on which Coronation Street has been built upon.”

On her impact on the cast, he said: “For anyone young who joined the show Liz was the matriarch.  She took us under her wing and was the mother figure who helped guide us through the show.  She did that for me. She’s going to be a big loss to us all.”

Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully, said he was “devastated” and commended Dawn as “a wonderful actress, a fascinating storyteller, a hilarious comedian and most importantly a brilliant friend.”

“For many people of my generation, Jack and Vera WERE Coronation Street. A light had gone out in Weatherfield a few years ago, but now Manchester too, has lost a little of its sparkle…”

Nick Tilsey to leave Coronation Street in dramatic storyline

Nick Tilsey is leaving Coronation Street in a dramatic storyline.

Actor Ben Price told The Daily Mirror he was leaving for “purely personal” reasons and praised the “terrific cast and crew” and “glorious storylines” on Coronation Street.

He said: “Coronation Street has been the most significant part of my career and I have had a fantastic seven years here.

“The decision to leave is purely personal – I want to spend more time with my family.

“I have been supported by a terrific cast and crew and have had the most glorious storylines and for that I am most grateful.”

Corrie bosses have teased a “dramatic exit” for Nick. Fans already know that Steve McDonald is the real father of Nick’s girlfriend Leanne Battersby’s child, and Nick is expected to leave after the truth comes to light over summer.

Coronation Street Executive Producer Kieran Roberts said: “We fully respect Ben’s decision to leave Coronation Street.

“As Nick he has been the centre of some of the biggest plots of the last seven years.

“He is valued member of cast who will be greatly missed but we still have many months of great storylines with him leading to his dramatic exit later this year.”

Price joined the soap as Nick in 2009, the third actor to portray the character. Nick is the eldest son of long-term regular Gail Platt, and was born off-screen in 1980. Since 2009, Nick has suffered brain damage from a car accident, married and divorced childhood love Leanne and had a one night stand with his brother’s wife.

Bill Roache speaks out about Ken Barlow’s shock stroke on Coronation Street

Coronation Street fans were left shocked last night after long-time cobbles resident Ken Barlow suffered a surprise stroke.

The storyline was not released ahead of time by ITV, which saw Ken keel over from a stroke after having a blazing row with son Peter Barlow. Ken had been planning to go on holiday, but the unexpected arrival of his son after a year’s absence provoked some nasty exchanges. Convinced Peter was up to his old ways, Ken interrogated him over what he was doing home – to drastic consequences.

Actor Bill Roache, who has played the role of Ken for an astonishing 56 years, said he was “thrilled to bits” with the new storyline.

He said: “I think [new show boss] Kate Oates is absolutely wonderful, and when she told me about this I was absolutely thrilled to bits.”

However, he admitted when he first heard the news of Ken’s stroke he was worried it would spell his departure from the show.

Roache said: “When I found out about the storyline, I didn’t feel paranoid about my health, but I did feel paranoid about my job. The first thing I asked was ‘do I get better?’.”
Viewers will have to stay tuned to see whether Ken makes a full recovery or not.”

The new storyline is set to bring the Barlows to the forefront of the show again, as Ken’s grandson Adam Barlow and son Daniel Osbourne return to Weatherfield to visit him in hospital.

Roache explained: “The Barlows have always been female led with Blanche and Deirdre and Tracy, and suddenly it’s four males.

“They have a scene round the bed in the hospital and I actually felt this sense of family. It’s actually very exciting, and I hope we’ll be like a mafia family – we in-fight like crazy, and if anybody else attacks us, bang, we’ll go out and get them!

“But I’m loving it to bits, having been in the show for 56 years, and being 84 years old I’m very fortunate to have a very vital and vibrant story.

“It’s not a one-off, it’s an organic process, hand grenades going off all the time, and can go on for years.”

Toyah Battersby is returning to Coronation Street

Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) is returning to Coronation Street after 13 years away from the cobbles.

The sister of Leanne Battersby departed Coronation Street in 2003 after learning that her friend Maria was pregnant with her boyfriend’s baby. During six years on the show, Toyah was abducted, involved in an underage sex scandal and a rape storyline. In 2001, Taylor won Best Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards for her portrayal of Toyah.

Toyah’s sister Leanne, played by Jane Danson, is of course still in Weatherfield and currently pregnant with Steve McDonald’s baby, so there will be a lot of catching up for the Battersby sisters when Toyah arrives this Christmas.

Actress Georgia Taylor said: “I am thrilled to be re-joining my old friends on the cobbles and hugely excited to be given the opportunity to explore the character of Toyah 13 years on.”

“Coronation Street has always had a place in my heart and I’m delighted to be working again with my good friend Jane Danson and bringing the Battersby sisters back together.

“The script writers and producers have come up with some fantastic, clever, and detailed story-lines that have inspired me and I feel excited to get started!”

Corrie Producer Kate Oates said: “I am delighted that Georgia Taylor has agreed to return to the role of Toyah. She is a talented actress who has had great success since leaving the show in 2003.

“Family relationships are the lifeblood of soap operas and I am excited to explore the drama that Toyah will bring with her to the cobbles. She has led an interesting life away from Weatherfield and she has secrets she has kept even from Leanne.

“Her arrival this Christmas looks set to put the cat amongst the Coronation Street pigeons.”