Coronation Street star Paddy Bever has quit the soap.
The 22-year-old actor has played troubled teen Max Turner on the ITV cobbles since 2021. He's been involved in several dramatic storylines on Weatherfield since and in 2022, won the Rising Star Prize at the National Television Awards.
Paddy has now decided to call it a day so that he can explore other opportunities, but he admits it was an "incredibly difficult decision". He is the latest in a series of high-profile Corrie stars to leave the soap in recent weeks.
He told The Mirror: "After much reflection and in an incredibly difficult decision, I have chosen to step away from Max, and Coronation Street, to explore new opportunities. I have been surrounded by such kindness and support every step of the way.”
Paddy said he was "eternally grateful" to Corrie bosses for giving him the opportunity to play such a complicated character. He added: "It’s been a great privilege to contribute to the legacy of such a well-loved and iconic show.
"This chapter has been unforgettable and while I look forward to what lies ahead, I will treasure these memories." Paddy's final scenes will air in March, and bosses knew he would leave for a while, meaning they've had time to develop his exit storyline.
It comes just days after Corrie legends Sue Cleaver and Colson Smith confirmed their exits from the soap. Colson, who plays police officer Craig Tinker, revealed this week he is leaving the soap after 14 years.
Last weekend, Sue (Eileen Grimshaw) announced she was leaving Corrie after a quarter of a century on the cobbles. Luca Toolan (Mason Radcliffe) also departed Weatherfield earlier this week when his character was killed off, and it was recently reported that Sue Devaney’s alter-ego Debbie Webster is to be written out of the soap.
Charlotte Jordan, who has played barmaid Daisy Midgely since 2020, is reportedly leaving. Corrie veteran Shelley King, who plays Yasmeen Nazir, has also reportedly left after 11 years.
Corrie boss Kate Brooke previously revealed there would be a "few exits" in 2025. She told The Sun: "There are a few exits this year, and some unexpected ones that will send shockwaves. People might not expect the exits, but there are a few."
Paddy took over the role of Max from previous actor Harry McDermott in 2021. The character, who grew up in foster care, first appeared on Corrie in 2010.
Max, who has ADHD, has had a rocky start in life, having been expelled from school, groomed by a far right group and ended up in a youth detention centre. However, he's since turned his life around and is in a relationship with Lauren Bolton.
Max's real mum is David Platt's first wife Kylie, who regained custody of him after initially selling him for £20,000 to his aunt Becky McDonald. David became a father figure for Max and he has raised him with second wife Shona since Kylie's murder in 2016.
According to the Mirror, his exit is likely to be connected to a major fire at No. 8, where the Platts have lived since 1991. It will go up in flames just weeks after Platt legend Gail left the cobbles after 50 years.
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