An ITV spokeswoman has confirmed to us here at the Coronation Street Blog that Craig Charles, who plays Streetcars cabbie Lloyd Mullaney, is leaving the show in September.
Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald, posted this on twitter after the news broke:
@SoapQueen86 @CCfunkandsoul I'm 😔
— simon gregson (@simongregson123) May 2, 2015
Craig will be leaving the show to return to filming Red Dwarf and hopes to return to Coronation Street one day.Craig Charles said: “I have had an absolutely fantastic ten years on Coronation Street and I will be very sad to leave. Lloyd has become a huge part of my life and I have made some amazing friends with whom I will always keep in touch.
“But I feel I owe it to my colleagues on Red Dwarf to join them in filming the new series and finding out what is in store for Lister and the others. I would love to return to Coronation Street at some point in the future.”
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30 comments:
Nooooo!!
Nooo! Will be missed :(
Actually broken-hearted. What will Steve do without Lloyd???
For any fan of Red Dwarf, this departure has been a long time coming. Every time Craig Charles has been missing (without explanation) from Corrie, I've expected a Red Dwarf announcement that they've started filming. Now I read that they're filming two series of RD so it makes sense for Craig to leave rather than be written out for a while. It also explains Andrea's exit. They've never known what to do with Lloyd but I will miss his bromance with Steve.
Nothing new here then.
Between this and the news about Carla, I'm going to go and find a quiet corner to cry in.
Carla dies in the fire caused by Tracy. Lloyd dies trying to save her thus he dies a hero. Oops, was that meant to be secret?
Okay, is there a reason why so many actors and actresses are leaving the programme? Am I detecting a general malaise among them? Is the producer a rotter? Are they finding the plots too mundane? Is someone else on the set being a snotbollock? I'm sure it'll come to light, if there is something, but right now, it certainly looks suspicious.
Well this is sad news for me at least because I have always liked Lloyd. I would rather see Sarah and her horrible daughter leave. Is Coronation Street going to end up with a group of people that have no substance whatsoever?
Well I quite like Lloyd but he has left and returned so many times now. Perhaps its his time. Good luck to Craig, he wont be short of work.
From what I've read on this blog and elsewhere, the actors get paid according to how often they appear, at the same time, while on contract, they can't pursue other projects. As many here have pointed out, an outsized focus on the Platts and WindStrongs have left little room for other storylines. I can only think that being one of the non-featured actors is like being stuck in an airport waiting room, feeling like your life and creative potential are being used up. If they want to keep people, why can't they create more flexible contracts that allow the actors to take on other work when they're being underutilised? (It might also be that the economy is recovered enough that other work is actually out there, making it less risky to take a break from Street life.)
Lloyd too? Pretty soon there won't be anyone left worth watching. Why am I thinking of rats and sinking ships?
Here's some good news. Stella is coming back to the street and she will helm the factory when Carla leaves. Cheers.
Actors are leaving for different reasons but it's depressing that they're leaving around the same time. Craig Charles will be filming two series of Red Dwarf so, on the face of it, it makes sense for him to leave rather than ask for a sabbatical. This would explain Andrea's exit.
I hope tptb understand that large family sagas within a soap are a real turn-off for viewers: the Platts, the Armstrong/Windass clan, the Nazirs. Many viewers like one or two members of a family but not the whole bundle. The Websters work because Tim brings in some fresh air. With all these family storylines, there's no chance to develop characters like Lloyd, and it's a damn shame.
The Street just won't be the same without Steve and Lloyds double act. Really hope he comes back at some point.
I'm sad to
See Craig Charles is leaving Corrie . But I wish him
All the best with Red Dwarf . He's been really underused recently . I loved the cab office banter with him Steve and Eileen . I agree about the larger families taking all the storylines . It must be very frustrating for the other actors. I just hope TPTB realise this is a mistake before Corrie goes down the pan altogether. Time for a new producer methinks . Good luck CC xx
Since Andrea is also leaving perhaps she and Lloyd will leave together with a happy ending?
Although I like Lloyd,recently he bugged me with his lack of compassion towards Steve's depression especially since Steve was so concerned for him after his heart attack.That being said,I believe Lloyd is another victim of the 'Platt Syndrome'.
That's a real bummer! I hope he comes back after he's done a few other things.
This is horrible news. All the good people are leaving and/or taking breaks, and we keep getting stuck with tiresome troublemakers like Todd, Tracy, Callum, Bethany and Sarah.
I do not like the way this show is evolving. Why are the producers punishing the viewers?
@Anonymous 16:42 - that's what I thought too, I hope at least with Andrea leaving as well that they give Lloyd a happy ending and send them off together.
Will really miss Lloyd. :(
Holy moly - all these 'leavings'... who's going to be left - and will THEY be worth watching???
Sad news....Craig has always been one of my favourites.....
I wonder how many actors will be happy to return once Blackburn is gone.
Oh for goodness sake, all this bewailng people leaving, people MOVE ON, nobody is missed for long on the Street. Lloyd has been written out for months before and so has Carla. Nobody is bigger than the Street not even icons like Hilda Ogden, Vera or Bet Lynch There are always other (and plenty of them) characters. Get over it folks!!
Have to agree with you Frosty! There are major characters who have left in the past who are not even thought about now.
Anyway, I reckon Lloyd will be like the Terminator....He'll be back.
Not too sorry actually. Never been a really interesting character. I only hope he takes the absolutely dire Andrea with him. Please pretty please. :)
We will survive, but it won't be as much fun without our favorite bromance. Lloyd has been in need of his own story for far too long. How hard could it be to write a story about a smart, nice middle aged single man? The heart attack was a blip, Andrea was a fizzle; he is one of the most likable characters and talented actors on the street and has been completely wasted for years. Think about it -- how good would he be behind the bar at the Rovers? I hope he leaves to do something with Jenna and returns with her in tow. CC, please don't stay away too long.
Agree would have loved to see Lloyd taking over the Rovers instead of bland Stella or to help out Liz while Steve is unwell. Really hope they will consider doing something like that if he returns. There is so little heart and humour in the show these days. Losing Steve and Lloyds double act leaves Weatherfield a much sadder place overall.
Carla AND Lloyd??
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!
While I agree with Frosty that people come and go and the street remains in tact, I think it's the loss of certain dynamics that really add to the show, that people have a hard time getting over. I've always thought that Steve and Lloyd were the best couple on the street. Steve needs a brotherly partner. He had Lloyd have been brilliant together.
I also think that the PTB have inserted new characters ahead of time to lessen the blow of so many departing. However, their choices of Sarah and Bethany filling some familiar void have fallen flat. They have only managed to annoy and frankly piss people off. Reading reactions on many forums have been overwhelmingly negative. There is also an overwhelming agreement that people are sick of the Platts. BUT....they keep jamming us with more stories that have them front and center.
Clearly, there needs to be a change of guard with this show.
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