Coronation Street boss Iain MacLeod has revealed to the Mirror that a fan favourite will be killed off in the next few months which will send ripple effects down the cobbles

A Coronation Street favourite is set for a brutal exit, the soap’s boss has teased. Speaking ahead of the ITV show’s 65th anniversary in December, Iain MacLeod hinted a big character is set for the chop as the show plans a series of huge episodes to mark the milestone.

Promising “shocking twists”, Iain said fans will be shocked with what he has in store. “The soap gods demand a sacrifice when you have an event of this kind,” Iain, executive producer for continuing drama at ITV, shared. “It’s going to be shocking. There will be lots of trauma, lots of drama, lots of twists.”

Teasing the drama will surround characters we’ve come to know and love, Iain said he’s not scared to be ruthless. “Sometimes the biggest and best exits are for characters that you care the most about.

“There’s always that equation where you think, ‘If they were to go, the viewers will really care, but what damage will it do to the landscape of the show in terms of the ability to tell stories?

“It’s a big responsibility so we do agonise about it quite a lot and argue about it. Our story conferences are fiery places at times and this period of the show is no different.”

Corrie will mark its 65th anniversary in December. There have been few details revealed about what the soap has planned to mark to momentous occasion but what we can expect is drama.

And some much-loved character will return. “There will be a few familiar faces coming back,” teased Iain. A huge episode for 2026 which will see the worlds of Corrie and Emmerdale come together in a momentous celebration of our soaps.

“All of it is feeding into this crossover episode we are doing in January,” explained Iain. “It’s going to get bigger and bigger. Things will peak in a big way.”

The show’s biggest names are set to take centre stage late this year. Corrie legends Bill Roache, Michael Le Vell and Sally Dynevor all recently signed new year-long contracts earlier this year to remain on the ITV soap and are expected to play a role in the big scenes.

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