IN the world’s worst-ever whodunit, Coronation Street writers have attempted to kill off the soap by knifing loyal fans in the back – but the
reason why remains a mystery.
As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, yet Corrie has risked its own demise by betraying viewers who stuck by it through all SEVEN
of Gail Platt’s marriages.
Sign up for the Corontation Street newsletter
Just 2.6million tuned in for the soap legend’s exit after 50 years -failing to make the top ten TV shows on Christmas Day.
The embarrassment comes after Coronation Street began to treat its committed fan-base with contempt by abandoning the characters they see themselves most in.
A desperate drive to run down costs and compete with streaming giants in today’s digital age has seen writers put the younger cast at the forefront – with a spotlight on violent, controversial and often politically-motivated storylines.
The show’s middle-aged audience has been kicked to the curb – as has its simple storylines laced with humour and family at the heart of it.
That’s what used to be Coronation Street’s bread and butter back when it regularly attracted more than 20million regular viewers.
Now knife crime, acid attacks, date rape scenes and gruesome deaths are an everyday occurrence.
Yes, of course, we all love a bit of drama to spice up the everyday monotony, but it’s no coincidence that plummeting ratings follow the soap’s dramatic change in direction.
This Christmas, the final return of Gavin and Stacey became the UK’s highest rating scripted show with 19.3 million viewers and counting.
The hit BBC show is a series that follows two families connected by marriage – telling their real-life stories without the need for over-dramatics.
Coronation Street should have continued to follow suit for it has, mostly, been about ordinary people doing ordinary things – to entertain ordinary people.
Bet Lynch’s 1995 departure from Coronation Street
But in a doomed attempt to appeal to a younger audience, the ITV soap has lost its way – and in turn alienated its loyal viewers.
As Corrie legend Charlie Lawson said recently of an exodus of star names from Weatherfield: “They are the foundation of Corrie, and the young ones have to try and live up to that. But I’m afraid most of them never will. Some are great but many performances from some of the younger cast are extremely average, sometimes disappointing.”
It’s handing itself a death sentence if it continues to turn its back on middle-aged soap stars who have been entertaining a middle-aged audience for six decades.
A word of warning: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
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.
