RAGING Coronation Street fans have called on bosses to ‘axe’ a legendary character.
Viewers of the long-running ITV soap have had enough with the permanent fixture on the cobbles.
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Leanne Battersby has had wide-ranging and controversial storylines since joining the show in 1997.
The character, played by Jane Danson, has endured prostitution, drug abuse as well as being embroiled in numerous affairs.
She tragically lost her son Oliver in 2020 to a rare mitochondrial disease, which left her and biological dad Steve McDonald heartbroken.
But since then the iconic character hasn’t had a prominent storyline – until now.
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Coronation Street fans have watched Leanne become indoctrinated by a cult called The Institute in recent weeks.
Leanne is being targeted by cult leader Rowan Cunliffe (Emrhys Cooper) who has been drawing her deeper into the fray by pretending to give her son back.
In terrifying scenes, Leanne showed her partner Nick Tilsley an AI version of her dead son, Oliver, who she has been speaking to. The computer generated version of her child was the age that Oliver would have been if he was still alive.
However, the sinister storyline has left viewers less than impressed – as they branded it ‘too little too late’ for actress Jane, 45.
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Taking to social media, one blasted: “Leanne is horrendous.”
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A second wrote: “How much longer of this Leanne being duped, and now grooming of Amy are we going to have to endure. Leanne really is an unlikeable character whether she has the smile on the face or when she was a drug dealer.”
“Leanne is finally turning her back on the Institute but is it too little too late? Remember Rowan knows about Nick & Toyah’s one night stand,” said a third.
While a fourth commented: “I really cant be doing with Leanne she is a real selfish bitch poor Toyah.”
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
Coronation Street’s 2024 shock exits
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let’s break down who’s left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
