Coronation Street performer Alex Bain has officially said goodbye to the cobbles after 15 years.
The 22-year-old actor, most famous for his role as Simon Barlow in the ITV television show since 2008, will leave the program in the upcoming months.
He was involved in a significant departure storyline that has involved him and adoptive mother Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) become connected in a dangerous cult after his brief struggle with excessive drinking.
Taking to Instagram to share his last photo of himself on set, he wrote: ‘That’s a wrap for Simon Barlow everyone. Thank you to all at Coronation Street for the best 15 years of my life.’
In a separate photo on Instagram Stories, he added: ‘Might be grey skies but I love this place so much. Love you all my Corrie family.’
This comes after it was reported actor Alex, who joined Corrie when he was just seven years old, was informed it was time to move on.
A source claimed: ‘Alex has been putting on a brave face saying he quit the show but in reality bosses decided it was time for him to move on.
‘It’s been incredibly emotional for Alex and he really doesn’t want to leave at all.’
They added to The Sun: ‘He’s been begging bosses to keep him in mind for the future. He wants to go back already.’
Simon’s downward spiral began at the start of the year, shortly after his dad Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) left the cobbles.
Feeling isolated, Simon turned to drinking alcohol to numb what he was feeling.
As his dependency on booze spiralled, Simon ended up putting himself and Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) in danger when he crashed Leanne’s car.
After Sam passed out and ended up in hospital, Leanne was forced to tell Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) that the collision happened because Simon was under the influence.
