Michelle Collins, who plays Rovers Returns landlady Stella Price, has announced she will be leaving the cobbled streets of Coronation Street this April. Collins contract is due to expire then but instead of renewing it she has told ITV bosses she wants to leave.
Bosses are said to be distraught at losing another star following the recent controversy surrounding Chris Fountain. Fountain was axed from the show following a controversial video that appeared of him online. A 'source' told The Sun newspaper, 'Corrie will have pulled out all the stops to try to keep Michelle as she is one of their biggest stars. It's a real blow losing her and it will be incredibly tough and expensive to replace her. They wanted her to stay for a lot longer - and this news really couldn't have come at a worse time.' But apparently the actress had made up her mind and could not be persuaded to stay.
Collins joins Sue Johnston and Michelle Keegan as the latest star to leave the show, who are both due to leave next year as well. Producer Stuart Blackburn said about Collin's departure, 'We wish Michelle every happiness as she moves on to pastures new'. It is unknown how she will be written out although Blackburn said, 'When an actor decides to leave a programme like Corrie, it means the writing team can creatively scale new heights. We promise the tour de force that is Stella Price will leave with a bang.'
