Coronation Street villain breaks silence on mass cast exodus on ITV soap which has left fans reeling
A CORONATION Street star has opened up on cast changes at the ITV soap, as the soap makes dramatic changes.
Actor Chris Harper is known for his portrayal on Coronation Street as evil villain Nathan Curtis, who groomed Bethany Platt when she was 16.
The actor has reappeared in the soap numerous times since he first stepped out onto the cobbles of Coronation Street in 2016, with his major storyline seeing him work with the NSPCC to deliver a dramatic and impactful grooming narrative.
Viewers watched last year as he returned to screens after serving his prison sentence.
In an exclusive chat with us, he's now opened up on the impact of Coronation Street and how viewers might feel seeing their favourite stars exiting.
He explained: "I think through the charity stuff I was able to see I was able to see the impact that Coronation Street has in terms of people's living space and living rooms and where that is in their hearts.
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"And so with all of those faces, they're familiar faces, whether you're really listening or you're getting on with cooking, whatever. Every day you see that those faces.
"In terms of the sort of emotional attachment to those faces, you know, I think when they go, you you miss them."
He continued: "I mean, to be honest, I'm such a I'm such a softie. You know, I read a novel and will fall in love with the characters and I'll be on a train platform two weeks later wondering how they're getting on.
"No, no, no, that was a book, Chris. You can't text them and say still thinking of you.
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"So I think it's the same with those characters, particularly, you know, they've been lovable.
"They've been angry. We've seen them upset. We've seen them happy. We've seen them go through so many things.
"So when they suddenly disappear from our lives. Yeah, it's always a bit of a shift."
The comments come as some of the ITV soap's biggest names have quit including Shelley King who is leaving after 11 years on the TV programme.
Another key face leaving is Charlotte Jordan, 28, who plays Rovers barmaid Daisy Midgeley, who will bow out later this year.
An exclusive source revealed to us that many other stars are considering leaving before they might be axed, as a schedule change up puts pressure on the soap.
The Sun told how Corrie bosses have reduced the show from six episodes per week, to just five 30-minute episodes.
As many as 75 people will lose their jobs across both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, which is also struggling amid the budget issues – and it seems even the biggest names aren’t immune from the soap’s cash crisis.
Insiders tell us that the stars have known for a while that changes were coming, but it’s left many feeling disgruntled and concerned about their future on the flailing soap.
A TV source said: “Rumours of a schedule change had been rumbling for a while so it wasn't a huge surprise to the cast but now the news is out there it is starting to feel very real.
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"Some of the cast have gone into panic mode and are really considering their futures.
“They are thinking of leaving before there axed to save them the embarrassment."
