Coronation Street cobbles transformed as filming officially kicks off on dramatic Christmas episodes
CORONATION Street has already started filming their Christmas episodes ahead of a drama filled festive period.
Leaked photos of the set show the Christmas decorations and lights are up in the street and Weatherfield police station.
Corrie is yet to announce who and which families will take centre stage during their festive period.
However, it has confirmed Helen Worth will be departing from the soap as Gail Platt.
After being in the ITV soap for half a century, she will be saying goodbye at the end of the year.
She had started filming her final episodes last month which was to involve the return of her ex-husband Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), however, he had to pull out due to “personal reasons”.
This means Corrie has to refilm her exit scenes, and think of an alternative storyline.
In a statement, actress Helen said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.”
“I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.”
“I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew.”
“The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
Elsewhere in the cobbles, Paul Foreman’s (Peter Ash) family cope with their first Christmas without him.
Paul was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in April 2023 with the soap closely following his gradual physical deterioration.
Working with the charity MND Association, Corrie has shown the impact of the condition on not only Paul but his loved ones for more than a year.
His final scenes saw him fight for breathe in a heartbreaking episode.
His husband Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) arrived to late to say his goodbyes and never got to hear his phone call.
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.
Will Billy finally find out?
Meanwhile, Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) might be leaving the soap as actress Cait Fitton reportedly updated her Instagram bio to say “previously Lauren in Coronation Street,” though it has since been changed.
There has been no word on whether groomer and abuser Joel Deering (Calum Lill) will be leaving the show anytime soon, but he’s likely to face his comeuppance before long.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.