A Coronation Street star addressed quitting the iconic soap – and revealed what’s next following their cobbles departure.
Since its launch back in 1960, Corrie has seen numerous cast members come and go over the decades.
Actor and comedian Jack Carroll joined the ensemble in 2023, playing Bobby Crawford, the nephew to Carla Connor (Alison King).
Jack ultimately stayed in the role for 18 months before Bobby made a quiet exit from Weatherfield.
Viewers saw the character head off on holiday, but he ultimately never returned to the cobbles.
Jack said: ‘That seems to be the trend in the way that they do exits now, it’s a bit more low key because it gives everybody then a bit more flexibility if you need to rearrange some pieces of the jigsaw in the future, that there’s that bit of flexibility there.
Actor and comedian Jack Carroll has addressed his low-key exit from Coronation Street
Jack joined the ITV soap in 2023, playing regular character Bobby Crawford
He bowed out from the role after 18 months on the cobbles
He continued to to The Sun: ‘So yeah, I was kind of grateful that they gave me that opportunity really, and didn’t kind of kill me off or anything like that. So yeah, I think in terms of ways to go, that was ideal for kind of my situation and what I needed at the time.’
Instead, the 27-year-old BAFTA-winning star is now focusing on his upcoming national tour.
The tour will launch in Bradford in February, before concluding in Stockton in November 2026 – having travelled through 22 cities.
It comes as an iconic Coronation Street character is reportedly set to return for a Christmas Day episode – just a year after their exit.
Gail Platt (who now has the surname Chadwick) is played by actress Helen Worth, 74, with dramatic scenes last Christmas seeing her say goodbye to the show.
Now, it has been reported she will be making a one-off appearance during this year’s festive episode and that it has already been filmed.
A source told The Sun: ‘Corrie bosses are keeping the exact details under wraps but it’s understood she takes the chance on Christmas Day to connect with the family.
‘And it could be more timely as the Platts find themselves in yet another drama, one that they’ve had to deal with by themselves since the Platts’ matriarch moved abroad.
‘It’s a move which is guaranteed to thrill soap fans, who wondered whether we’d ever catch a glimpse of show favourite Gail on the cobbles again.’
ITV has been contacted by Daily Mail for comment.
Last year, Helen took to X to share a heartwarming video with fans after news of her departure was revealed.
She had portrayed Gail for 50 years, having first joined the Coronation Street cast back in 1974.
During her time on the show she was married five times, including to Brian Tilsey (Christopher Quinten), who was tragically stabbed to death, and Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), one of the soap’s long-serving characters.
Helen had been at the centre of an array of explosive storylines, including her daughter Sarah’s teenage pregnancy, and the death of her fourth debt-ridden husband Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) during a failed life insurance scheme.
One of Gail’s most iconic moments came in a 2003 episode when she found out her husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) was a serial killer.
But Helen’s final scenes were shown last Christmas in an emotional moment that saw her start ‘day one of her new life’ with husband Jesse Chadwick (John Thompson) abroad.
Jack first rose to fame as a teenager – finishing as runner-up on Britain’s Got Talent in 2013
It has been reported Gail Chadwick – played by Helen Worth – is returning for a festive one-off appearance
After the scenes aired, Helen said in a video: ‘Hello all of you. It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to say ta ta.
‘It’s been a fabulous 50 years and I just wanted to thank all of you some of you who may have been watching for 50 – is there anybody?
‘And those of you who have been watching for a few years thank you.
‘Thanks for coming on the journey with me. I’ve had a wonderful time.
‘I’ve loved it, all the stories and of course it’s been wonderful working with the wonderful Platts which for me is what it’s all about and there’ll be more Platt stories and I hope you’ll be watching.
‘Lots of love and thanks from me.’
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
