Coronation Street fans were faced with dramatic final scenes on Friday as Les Dennis’s character, Michael Rodwell, apparently died.
Rumours before the programme suggested that Michael, a regular character on the show since March 2014, would be killed in a stand-off with Pat Phelan, played by Connor McIntyre, after Michael discovered proof of his fraudulent misdemeanours.
In the two episodes broadcast on Friday evening, the first ended with the pair facing each other.
Pat was clutching a crowbar and chillingly said, “Sorry Michael, I’ll try to make this quick”.
In the second episode, broadcast at 8.30pm, Michael began to run away through a construction site, but stopped when he appeared to have a heart attack.
Pat ignored his pleas for help and left him dying.
Michael reached for his phone as Gary Windass, played by Mikey North, came to the site to try to find him and confronted Pat.
It was not until the end of the show that Michael was shown, apparently dead, on a pile of sandbags.
Join @LesDennis and @connor9mcintyre behind the scenes during Michael’s chilling exit: https://t.co/OXmjpeh6Vt #Michael #Phelan #Corrie pic.twitter.com/mNHV6ZaBOM
— Coronation Street (@itvcorrie) November 18, 2016
Michael has suffered with a heart condition for a while and last year collapsed after discovering his real son was dead, and sharing a naughty kiss with Eileen when he was with Gail.
Following the finale, the show’s official Twitter page posted a behind-the-scenes video with Les and Connor.
Les said: “I’ve been here for two-and-a-half years and those two-and-a-half years have absolutely flown by.
It’s a show that I have loved since I was a kid and to have been part of it has been just a joy.”