Coronation Street star Alex Bain, known for his role as Simon Barlow, is set to leave the show in a dramatic exit. Despite leaving months ago, a well-known character will play a part in his departure. The 22-year-old actor first appeared on the show at the age of seven and viewers recently witnessed the beginning of his exit storyline.
In Monday’s episode, Simon, who was hungover, had a conversation with cult leader Rowan Cunliffe. Rowan suggested that Simon join his stepmother Leanne Battersby at the Altovalent Institute retreat. Simon expressed his inability to afford it, but Rowan offered to cover his costs. It seemed that this decision would mark the end of Simon’s presence on the show.
However, Simon’s stepdad Nick Tilsley and aunt Toyah Habib were horrified by his choice. Concerned about Simon joining the cult, Nick reached out to a departed character for help. He contacted Simon’s father Peter and asked him to talk some sense into their son. To Simon’s surprise, his father got in touch and invited him to work on a yacht. Encouraged by this opportunity, Simon abandoned the idea of the retreat and decided to sail off with Peter instead.
Alex’s departure from the show mirrors the tumultuous journey of his character. Recent reports suggest that the actor already wants to return to the show. According to a source, Alex initially claimed to have quit the show, but it was actually the decision of the show’s bosses for him to move on. The source revealed that Alex has been emotionally affected by the departure and has been pleading with the bosses to consider bringing his character back in the future.
In a post on his Instagram story, Alex shared a photo from his dressing room before filming his final scenes. He expressed his disbelief that his time on the show was coming to an end and mentioned how much he will miss the place.
Alex recently had a leaving party with some of his co-stars, including Elle Mulvaney, Harriet Bibby, and Jack James Ryan. Jack, who portrayed Jacob Hay on the show, paid tribute to Alex’s 15 years on Coronation Street and referred to him as an icon and a brother.
Coronation Street airs on ITV on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8pm. If you want to stay updated with news from the Daily Express, sign up for their news notifications.
