ONE of Coronation Street’s biggest stars has bid a sad farewell to the ITV soap after 15 years.
Alex Bain paid tribute to the long-running serial drama in an emotional post to fans.
Alex, 22, has played the role of Simon Barlow since he first joined Coronation Street in 2008.
Fans recently saw his emotional final scenes air on ITV as he finally bid farewell to the cobbles.
On Monday’s episode, Simon hugged Leanne as he left Weatherfield in the back of a taxi to join his dad Peter (played by Chris Gascoyne) who is working abroad.
The soap’s official Instagram account posted a behind the scenes video with him sitting on the exterior set as he spoke to the camera.
Speaking by Gail’s home with the Rovers in the background, he thanked everyone who supported him over the years.
Alex gushed: “I just want to say a quick message from me and my character Simon to all the fans of Coronation Street.
“I just wanted to say that it’s been a fantastic experience. I’ve loved being here, and I’ve loved being a part of the nation’s favourite Street.
“And I just wanted to say a big old thank you to everybody who supported me over the years, all the people I’ve worked with, and it’s been an honour and I will always cherish my time here on Coronation Street.”
He signed off saying: “Take care everyone.”
His co-stars flocked to the comments section with praise for the actor.
Jane Danson, who played his on-screen mum Leanne Battersby, wrote: “End of an era. Good luck Al …. Such special times.”
Kate Ford, who played his on-screen aunt Tracy Barlow, commented with a simple red heart emoji.
Elle Mulvaney played his cousin Amy Barlow and said: “All the best @alexbainofficial.”
Alex previously described the ITV soap as “the backbone” of his life when he first opened up about his exit from the soap.
He explained: “I felt very positive about it, but I am 22 now and maybe it is time to see what the future holds.
“It isn’t just a job, you become part of a family and I will always have those people in my life.
“They aren’t just colleagues, they are friends. Obviously anybody leaving feels sad about saying goodbye to people but any sadness is a small part of it.”
He added: “Simon heading off on his adventures means I can have new ones of my own.”
Coronation Street Spoilers: News & Cast Updates
The beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
The show follows the lives of the residents as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles.
Here’s the latest on:
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