Coronation Street actor Alex Bain has verified that he's shooting new scenes for the show before he leaves soon.
The actor, who is best known for playing Simon Barlow since 2008, will be leaving the show in the next few months.
During his time on the show, he has been involved in some significant stories – such as being stuck in a burning apartment while his dad Peter (Chris Gascoyne) slept on the sofa, physically mistreating his adoptive mom Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and then being coerced into selling drugs by Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor).
More recently, he has turned to drinking, and in alarming scenes, crashed his car while drunk which put his little ‘brother’ Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) in danger.
Yesterday (18th March), Alex posted a picture on his Instagram story showing the show’s 7.7-acre production site in Trafford, Greater Manchester.
![FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Thursday 24th December 2020 Coronation Street - Ep 1021718 Friday 8th January 2021 As Simon Barlow [ALEX BAIN] goes to get changed for his date with Kelly he?s horrified to find Leanne Tilsley [JANE DANSON] passed out on the sofa next to a bottle of sleeping pills and calls an ambulance. Picture contact David.crook@itv.com This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://www.plazajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/upload-2085.jpg)
For the past ten years, Corrie has been situated on the other side of Salford Quays, having moved there from the former Granada Studios.
Accompanying the picture, which displays the large metallic logo on the side of the building, he wrote 'Guess who’s back home?'
It's unclear whether this means he has finished filming and is returning for a short time, or if he's just going to the studios to clear his desk.
His departure is expected to unfold over the Spring, as Simon and Leanne get involved with ‘The Institute’, a dangerous cult disguising itself as a self-help group at the Chariot Square Hotel.
He first attended the workshops in last week’s episodes and was taken there by his mom after he was banned from driving for drink driving.
The two were immediately impressed by the speaker Rowan (Emrhys Cooper), who took great satisfaction in the positive comments they both gave him.
This isn’t the first time the ITV show has dealt with a cult storyline – in 1998, Zoe Tattersall (Joanne Froggatt) was introduced to the Etheric Foundation, a group of people that sold crystals and worshipped their leader Nirab (a fun anagram on then incumbent producer Brian Park).
