Michelle Collins to quit Corrie?

Michelle Collins will reportedly quit ITV soap Coronation Street when her new contract runs out.

Collins joined Corrie last year as Rovers Return manager Stella Price and was quickly revealed to be the biological mother of Leanne Barlow (Jane Danson) a plot twist not entirely well received by fans.

The Mirror reports that Collins will quit Corrie, when her new one-year contract runs out, to spend time with her family. ‘I will be in the show until this time next year but I think she would sue me after that. My daughter has her GCSEs next year. I want to be around to support her so I’ll have to take time out….I find it really difficult working in Manchester and then coming back to London to be a mum. I don’t want to unsettle Maia.’

Fans had a hard time warming to the character of Stella and Collins’ northern accent came in for much stick from fans and critics alike – and was an easy target for comedians. Producer Phil Collinson defended his casting of Collins in the role of Stella and the actresses accent but that did little to stop the barrage of criticism.

It was recently revealed that Sue Johnston – known for a wide variety of roles – had been cast in the role of Stella’s mother Gloria.