Why everyone left Coronation Street this year

Coronation Street is no exception to the regular comings and goings of actors in the soap world. While several new characters have joined Weatherfield this year to shake things up, we've also seen established favourites bow out.

But why did the leavers wave goodbye to the cobbles? Here's our guide to 2022's departing cast and why they moved on to pastures new.

Rebecca Ryan (Lydia Chambers)

ITV

Former Shameless, Casualty and Waterloo Road star Rebecca Ryan had one of the biggest Corrie storylines at the start of this year. Her character Lydia Chambers developed an unhealthy obsession with Adam Barlow and made various attempts to destroy his marriage to Sarah.

Rebecca joined the cobbles at the end of 2021, but in March 2022 the news broke that she'd finished filming.

At the time, Digital Spy's Corrie insiders told us that it was always the plan for scheming Lydia to be part of the show for a finite period of time. The character was brought in specifically for the Adam and Sarah storyline.

Rebecca later addressed her departure on Instagram, writing: "That's Lydia over and out!! I have had the most amazing time on the cobbles and it's an experience that I will never forget!!

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"Thank you so much for all the lovely comments, I see them all and I appreciate every single one! Bye Lydia, it's been a blast."

Alexandra Mardell (Emma Brooker)

ITV

Alexandra joined Corrie in early 2018, with Emma initially introduced as a love interest for David Platt. She was later revealed as the daughter of Steve McDonald, giving her a ready-made family on the Street.

In February 2022, Alexandra's departure from Coronation Street was announced and her final scenes aired two months later.

Alexandra admitted that leaving was bittersweet, but she was keen to start playing a variety of characters again.

She told Digital Spy and other press at the time: "It was really difficult, even now I'm like: 'What have I done?' I know it's right for me but I can see so easily how people stay there for 20, 60 years, because it is such an amazing place to work.

"But I just wanted to play another character. As much as I've got to explore Emma in lots of different ways, there's some other people I want to try and give a go as well."

Kel Allen (Laura Neelan)

gary windass visits laura neelan in hospital, coronation street

ITV

Kel's character Laura made her first appearance on Corrie in 2020 and she kept popping up for guest appearances afterwards.

In 2022, Laura returned for the final time. It was revealed that the wayward character was terminally ill.

Kel backed the decision to write out her character with a memorable storyline, which saw Laura falsely take the blame for the murder of her husband Rick before she died.

Speaking in February, Kel explained: "I think for me, it's bittersweet – I guess Laura could have stayed around. But then what would have happened? She'd be up to her old tricks again. Every actor wants to get their teeth into something so gritty, and there's always twists and turns.

"I've made so many bonds with everybody off set. It does sound extremely cliché when people say it's a family, but it genuinely is. I'll miss that, but we'll all still stay in touch."

Charlie de Melo (Imran Habeeb)

ITV

Imran was a firm favourite with Corrie's online fanbase, but his time on the show came to a dramatic end in June. The lawyer had the honour of bowing out in the ITV soap's annual stripped week of episodes, which play out alongside the Britain's Got Talent live shows.

When Imran's weeks of lies and deception were exposed, he was involved in a car crash with his wife Toyah and died from a cardiac arrest at the scene.

Charlie de Melo left Corrie of his own accord, wanting to challenge himself away from the cobbles after nearly five years as Imran.

He told us: "It got to a stage where I was enjoying myself so much over there and constantly being challenged and constantly being put in front of some of the most talented people I've ever worked with.

"That meant that I saw a version of myself that would literally be staying there until I was booted. I came to the realisation that I have no spouse, I have no car or mortgage or kids, or any of these kinds of things that would otherwise necessitate consistency.

"I thought if I didn't close my eyes and step off into the void now, then I never will. So, it was nothing to do with the job. If anything, the job was really keeping me rooted and I had such a wonderful time there, but it was just a case of: 'If not now, when?'"

Melanie Hill (Cathy Matthews)

ITV

Melanie took on the role of Corrie's Cathy Matthews in 2015, but decided to leave the ITV soap this year.

Announcing her choice before her final episodes aired, Melanie explained that she'd taken time to reconsider her priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a chat with The Mirror, Melanie shared: "It's not been an easy thing to decide. My family has been important but the pandemic has made a lot of people think about the future. It has changed a lot of things in my head.

"You've just got to see what's important to you. I absolutely love everybody but it's made me think about my family a lot and what the priorities are in my life."

Melanie added that she was grateful to Corrie's team for leaving the door open for Cathy to possibly return in the future.

Kimberly Hart-Simpson (Nicky Wheatley)

ITV

Kimberly returned to the role of Nicky for a second run this year, having previously appeared as a guest in 2020.

Nicky's latest stint on the cobbles saw her reconnect with Daniel Osbourne and feud with Daisy Midgeley, but her stories reached a natural end in the summer without a proper goodbye scene.

Some fans were confused by Nicky's departure as they'd expected to see more from her, which prompted Kimberly to explain on her Instagram page.

She said: "Okkkk, let's get this answered because it's heavy in the inbox. So it's not a case of leaving Corrie. It's more that I came back for a storyline which, for now, has been completed.

"If you watched Friday's episodes you will see there was no big leaving scene, so you never know for the future, but what I do know is this… I owe so much to Corrie, and I absolutely love it there – the people, the vibe, the street.

"Life happens in chapters – and I am looking forward to the next part."

Jamie Kenna (Phill Whittaker)

ITV

Jamie joined Corrie in 2021 as a new love interest for Fiz following her split from Tyrone. However, with Corrie bosses always planning to reunite Fiz and Tyrone in the long-run, the character had a shelf life.

Phill made his final appearance in July 2022, a few weeks after Fiz regretted their wedding and went back to Tyrone.

Speaking in a video released on Corrie's social pages, Jamie commented: "Sadly, as we now know, I couldn't keep them apart any longer, and the modern day Jack and Vera are reunited. And I feel so honoured to have played my part in that. Jennie [McAlpine] and Alan [Halsall] are the best people to work with. I've been so, so lucky.

"I just wanted to come on here and say a massive thank you for the love and support for me and Phill over this last year. I've had an absolute blast. I love this place, I love this show, what a ride it's been for big Phill with 2 Ls!

"Who knows, maybe it isn't the end, maybe they'll bring him back. But for now, it's a massive goodbye from me and again sending loads of love and thank you to everyone here at Corrie, to all of you guys for tuning in, watching and giving me support."

Millie Gibson (Kelly Neelan)

gary windass, kelly neelan and aadi alahan in coronation street

ITV

Millie had one of Corrie's biggest exits of the year, with the ITV soap blowing the budget to bring in Hollywood-style volume wall technology for Kelly's final scenes.

After a week of high drama involving a rooftop showdown and a shooting, Kelly decided to leave the cobbles. She knew she couldn't trust Gary Windass again following the devastating revelation that he was the real killer of her father Rick.

In real life, Millie chose to leave Corrie this year as she wanted to pursue other roles.

She told us: "I think Corrie is a home. It's the best way of describing it, it's a home. Because I'm so young, I thought: 'I've got to leave'. I have no responsibilities – I don't have kids, I don't have a mortgage to pay or anything like that, I'm still grateful to be living at home.

"So I thought: 'I'm just going to see what else the world has'. If it does happen, it does – that would be quite good, wouldn't it? I just thought I might as well see what happens while I'm still young."

Joe Frost (Leo Thompkins)

ITV

Joe joined Corrie in autumn 2021, when Leo was introduced as a construction worker who was helping the Platts with the sinkhole in their back garden. He soon became a new love interest for Jenny Connor.

In September 2022, Leo became the first victim of Corrie's latest killer Stephen Reid, losing his life in a showdown on the factory gantry.

Joe hasn't clarified whether it was his choice to leave or whether the Corrie bosses decided to write him out.

Addressing his departure on Instagram, Joe seemed grateful for his extended stay, writing: "Oooft. What a ride… Six weeks that turned into a hell of a year. A dream come true for a lad from the North West.

"Can't thank the whole team at Coronation Street enough for letting me add my footprints to the cobbles. (This one was for you Gran…) Now, how's that sinkhole looking?"

Nathan Graham (James Bailey)

nathan graham as james bailey in coronation street

Joseph Scanlon//ITV

Nathan started playing the role of talented footballer James in 2019, but chose to bow out this year.

James's exit storyline saw him take on a football coaching position in Lewisham, after health problems led to his departure from Weatherfield County.

Nathan has confirmed that it was his own choice to leave Corrie as he wanted to pursue other opportunities.

He explained: "I am the sort of person who lives in the moment and goes with what feels right. When it came to my decision to leave, it was very difficult. It was a tough thing to decide, obviously for various reasons.

"Going from a place of security to not knowing what is next is scary and a risk. But then also, it was just the right decision and it felt right. I had a good chat with [Coronation Street producer] Iain MacLeod and he understood my decision.

"I have had some great storylines and I did wonder where the character could go next, so I felt it was time to go and do something different for me.

"At this moment in time, I only have myself to think of and that is the time to step out of your comfort zone. Once you are settled down with responsibilities and a family to think of, it isn't as easy to make that leap."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV and streams on the ITV Hub.