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Tuesday 19 July 2016

Les Dennis is leaving Coronation Street

ITV have today announced that Les Dennis, who plays Michael Rodwell, is leaving Coronation Street.  The announcement comes hours after a tabloid report in which it is claimed a major character will die.  Are the two announcements connected? We'll have to wait and see!

Les joined Coronation Street in 2014 as Michael Rodwell, and ended up marrying Gail.  The signs were all there he would never last long!

Les says today: "As a lifelong fan of the show, playing Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street has been a dream come true. Becoming part of the ITV Coronation Street family has been a wonderful experience and my decision to leave was a hard one.

“Earlier this year, thanks to Coronation Street giving me a sabbatical from the show, I was thrilled to be able to produce and star in a sell-out production of Alan Bleasdale's Down the Dock Road at The Royal Court Liverpool. I always knew that the time would come when I would want the freedom to do more projects, and now feels like the right time.

“The talented team of writers and producers have come up with a very dramatic exit for Michael on the show which will be exciting to film. I’ll treasure the two and a half years I have been part of such an iconic show and move on with very fond memories, so many lovely friends and colleagues and an ambition achieved."

Coronation Street producer Kate Oates commented:

“We’re very sad to see Les leave Coronation Street as he’s an enormously popular and talented actor. He’s brought warmth, wit and integrity to the character of Michael. We have worked on giving him a great story to ensure a fantastic and dramatic end to his time on the Street. I can't wait to see it unfold!

"He will be very much missed and we wish him many successes with his new ventures."

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16 comments:

C in Canada said...

What was the point of bringing him back then?

PoidaPete said...

Totally agree C in Canada, it's seems a waste of time to have him come back when it's kinda unnecessary.

Anonymous said...

Right...and why should we invest one moment into the Gail/Michael reunion when we know this one isn't going to stick either. I hate feeling sorry for Gail but now they've done it.

Antiphon said...

I agree. Gail is not my favourite character but I feel rather sorry for her knowing that her reconciliation with Michael will end in tears.

Lindsay said...

So here we go again! Have the casting department never thought there may be other actors/actresses who could take over these roles as their fellow thespians pack it in??? Gail must have exhausted the boutiques for wedding outfits and Trace must be making a fortune in funeral flowers, I assume there must be a hot line to funeral homes, for goodness sake waken up Corrie writers, there is enough horrible news in the real world, we want to be entertained not depressed, !!!

Anonymous said...

I feel sorry for Gail. Martin got away alive.

Anonymous said...

They have said a street legend will die - I would say he's a legend.

Scott Willison said...

Why did they never let him be funny? A professional comedian, naturally witty and amusing, and they've had him mope around the Street since he arrived. He's not been involved in any funny storylines; he's barely cracked a smile. It's like buying Gareth Bale then putting him in goal.

Ancient corrier said...

Lindsay, I totally agree, everything I watch now seems to be full of violence, I've never switched the telly off so much as I do now.
Please Corrie lets have some light comic relief for a change.

Humpty Dumpty said...

Les Dennis was never given a chance to show what he could do. He was matched with Gail and then Eileen, hardly comedy gold for someone like LD. He had a ridiculous storyline with Gavin/Andy. It could be that he said that he wanted to get away from comedy and do drama and it might have worked with other material. Then he was in and out like a dog at a fair; I thought he'd left at one point but he turned up a couple of episodes later. Sorry but he won't be missed. I wouldn't have thought he was the legend to go up in smoke. On that count, my money's on Rita.

Anonymous said...

Gail loses another husband! Come on. Like another poster said what was the point of him coming back, hooking up with Gail and then kill him off.

Anonymous said...

I like Les, but this character sulked around and has never really worked, so quite glad he's off.

70sStreetFan said...

Yay! Won't be sorry to see the end of this wet,pointless character. And he drags down Gail's character too. She turns into a simpering idiot whenever he's in the vicinity. She never behaved like this with any of her previous husbands.

Anonymous said...

Well there goes another one... at least this time it'll likely be due to a heart attack. Let us pray that this will see an evolution in Gail. A woman who will learn to devote herself to something other than fluttering her eyelashes at some dolt. Let her become a strong foundation for David/kids to lean on while she finds something in life to do, just by her damned self!

Catsmom said...

I guess they brought Michael back to provide an obstacle to Phelan.

Ancient corrier said...

What a disappointment Michael turned out to be. When I read Les Dennis was joining the show I was expecting a cheeky chappie in a flat cap, how wrong was I.

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