Sad news indeed.
Coronation Street actress Claire King is to leave the soap after three years playing Erica Holroyd.
Since joining the show in 2014 when the character returned from Spain with friend Liz McDonald, Erica has become a firm favourite on the Street, forming an unlikely friendship with Mary and taming Corrie lothario Dev Alahan.
Claire made the decision to leave the cobbles to enable her to work on other projects.
Coronation Street actress Claire King is to leave the soap after three years playing Erica Holroyd.
Since joining the show in 2014 when the character returned from Spain with friend Liz McDonald, Erica has become a firm favourite on the Street, forming an unlikely friendship with Mary and taming Corrie lothario Dev Alahan.
Claire made the decision to leave the cobbles to enable her to work on other projects.
Erica will be on screen until August with details of her exit storyline being kept under wraps for viewers.
Claire King commented: "It's been a dream come true to tread those famous cobbles. I was only meant to stay for 6 weeks initially so for Erica to be so popular that she stayed for 3 years and even worked in the Rovers was a real to compliment to me as an actress.
Claire King commented: "It's been a dream come true to tread those famous cobbles. I was only meant to stay for 6 weeks initially so for Erica to be so popular that she stayed for 3 years and even worked in the Rovers was a real to compliment to me as an actress.
"I’ve had such a great time with the cast and crew so its fabulous that they have left the door open for Erica to return in the future - who knows what adventures she’ll be getting up away from the Street - she’s certainly not boring! As for me I’m ready for another challenge. I’m not leaving the screens anytime soon, so watch this space.
"Coronation Street Executive Producer Kieran Roberts said: “Claire is a wonderful actress and we’ve loved having her on the show. She’s been a great addition to the cast and we wish her every success in the future.”
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Sad to see. Claire King is a fantastic actress and has been badly underused. It's pretty much what the did when they brought back Philip Lowrie, had them for a big storyline and then withers didn't know what to do with them or just simply forgot about them and then gave them the flick. Good luck to her in her future endeavours.
ReplyDeleteGlad they are leaving the door open for her to return in the future, hopefully she will.
ReplyDeleteVery sad that they have underused her all this time.
How spooky, I was actually thinking of writing a blog piece this week about the dangers of underusing actors on Corrie, as I feared Erica would be the next character to leave.
ReplyDeleteCorrie has a worrying habit of underusing characters, and the actors clearly get itchy feet and decide to move on as they aren't being given the chance to shine. Either that, or they just simply don't know what to do with them after a big storyline, and write them out anyway.
Andy, Steph, Freddie and Sharif (before his sacking, he was being written out anyway) are good examples of this. Andy especially - never really given the chance to shine after the Fake Gavin storyline. And Sharif never given the chance to shine at all.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Rana's exit is announced before the end of the year - I see her going the same way as Erica; underused and no real character development to know what to do with her.
I'd worry for all the Nazirs actually, Yasmeen and Zeedan's exits wouldn't surprise me either. Corrie unfortunately doesn't seem to have a good track record when it comes to holding on to the peripheral characters for any significant length of time. I'd love to see the Nazirs take centre stage alongside the Platts and the Barlows but I somehow don't see it happening.
She and Freddie were underused. I will miss them both. I even miss Steph and Andy. What do these people have in mind. They gather people we like...don't know what to do with them...let them go and replace them with people who we will maybe like....then they will misuse them and let them go to.
ReplyDeleteGrrrrrrrr. This loss makes me feel so irritated. Liz without Deirdre needs a friend...now her main friend is gone.
No surprise. As everyone has said, she was underused, criminally so. I agree with Craig, most of the Nazirs are probably not long for the cobbles if they don't do something with them. Alya has shown up this week but hasn't been seen in months. Yasmeen seems to be a fan favourite and Zeedan has improved but I don't think fans have ever warmed to Alya and Rana.
ReplyDeleteIs underusing an actor done on purpose, a sign they're edging them out gradually? Or is it the sad result of not knowing how to write good stories for them? One worry I have is for Gemma. I think she's a fantastic character and I love when she's onscreen, but they don't seem to be using her talents very much.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise. Pointless character.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with most comments on here. The writers gave her several storylines but for whatever reason, they never seemed to work. Erica never fitted in. In fact, her first storyline with Nick is where it should have ended.
The miscarriage storyline, we saw her lose the baby but stay to give it another go with Nick - even though she knew he was in love with another woman.
She was shoved with Dev and had a few nice conversations with Mary and Liz but over all, a very forgettable character and very easily replaceable.
Claire King was fabulous on Emmerdale but her stint on Corrie was unsuccessful from the very start.
She hasn't really been in it myuch has she? plus we haven't seen her for weeks now which is a real shame because she could have brought a real warmth to the show which is badly needed.
ReplyDeleteThe whole crux of the matter is that the cast is JUST TOO HUGE - too many characters, not enough time to give them all a decent storyline.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the posters who see this as a missed opportunity and a shame,but not a surprise.
ReplyDelete