Katherine Kelly quits Coronation Street

Actress Katherine Kelly has quit ITV soap Coronation Street after playing Becky McDonald for five years.

The actress has decided to quit the soap to try new projects and spend more time with her family and friends. Bosses at the soap have promised the actress a series of explosive storylines in the run up to her exit and are reportedly planning to leave the door open for possible future returns.

“It’s been one of the hardest decisions of my life. I love Coronation Street and everyone here. I have had the most blissful time and wouldn’t change one moment. But it feels the time is right to say goodbye to Becky.” – Katherine Kelly in Hello!

Katherine Kelly will continue in her role until the end of this year and fans will see her bow out as Kelly early in 2012. Since her arrival in 2006 the character has been at the centre of a string of storylines such as her marriage to Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and more recently her feud with Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford).

During the tram-crash, last year, viewers saw Kelly loot the Corner Shop for thousands of pounds of cash to pay her sister for her son Max – a secret which Dev and Sunita have recently discovered. Becky’s short temper, loud-mouth ways have made her a fan favourite especially the arguments/scraps she’s had with Tracy and her mother-in-law Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard).