Coronation Street star Alex Bain, who has played Simon Barlow for 15 years, has quit the ITV soap, it’s been reported.
The 22-year-old actor has been in the ITV soap since he was seven years old. However, he is expected to depart with an explosive storyline next summer.
Alex, who became a dad in real life in 2018 is said to be “very excited” about his big move.
Simon Barlow leaving the Coronation Street cobbles?
A source claimed to The Sun: “Alex is sad to be leaving Coronation Street because it really is like a family. But he realises that the time is right to move on.”
He realises that the time is right to move on.
They went on to add: “He’s very excited about the future and other opportunities.”
The telly star has been involved in a series of controversial storylines, and won the British Soap Award for Best Young Actor in 2011.
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Alex’s real life is pretty dramatic, too!
Meanwhile, in real life, the child actor became a father himself at the age of 17. His then-girlfriend Levi Selby gave birth to their daughter Lydia-Rose just after her 16th birthday in December 2018.
However, the couple split, with a source claiming: “They were over the moon at the birth of their baby girl and were really happy together. But they’ve been through a lot together and they’re both still so young.”
The soap star then enjoyed a short-lived engagement to dancer Mollie Lockwood. Speaking to OK! magazine after getting down on one knee, Alex gushed: “I can’t spend my life with anyone else.”
However, earlier this year, it was reported that Alex had sadly split from his aspiring actress fiancée Mollie. An insider told The Sun: “They’re gutted the relationship didn’t work out, but they’re both so young it’s hard to make such a big commitment early on in their lives.”
Previously Alex revealed that his daughter and his role in the soap had saved him from “dark times”. He said: “If I didn’t stick at the job that I’m in now I would have been lost.
“Corrie has kept me going and especially having a daughter has kept me going – it gives me something to do,” he concluded.
Corrie spoilers
Reports claim that he’ll leave the role of Simon Barlow in Coronation Street this summer.
Alex’s on-screen dad, Peter Barlow, played by Chris Gascoigne, will be seen leaving the cobbles – and Carla – tonight (December 26).
ED! has contacted ITV for comment.
Read more: Coronation Street spoilers tonight: Peter leaves Carla – and Weatherfield
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