Former Coronation Street star Debbie Rush has discussed the reasons behind leaving the role of Anna Windass.
Debbie left in 2018 following around ten years on the cobbles. Her original exit saw her wrongfully imprisoned after being framed by villain Pat Phelan. She then returned briefly a few months later, being the one to kill Phelan.
"I had the best time on Coronation Street," Debbie said about her departure (via WhatsOnTV). "But I moved on because I wanted to do other things.
"I love having the freedom to choose, because when you're on a long-running soap, you feel tied down and you can't do anything else!
"I've loved doing an episode of Inside No. 9 and Brassic on Sky One last year, but I wouldn't have been able to do either if I hadn't left Corrie."
In 2017, when her exit was first announced, Debbie said that she was "excited to explore what other acting opportunities are out there".
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And in the summer of 2018, when asked if she would be interested in playing Anna again in the future, the star said that the possibility was unlikely.
"I don't know, I don't think so," she said at the time. "Never say never, but I don't know.
"It was a great job, and I absolutely loved it. I didn't leave because I hated it. I left for a few different reasons, and I loved going back. So I don't know."
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.
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