As Britain’s longest running soap, Coronation Street has weathered many storms.
There was the explosive 50th-anniversary tram crash, Pat Phelan’s reign of terror storyline, and more recently Daisy’s stalking hell.
But now explosive infighting behind the scenes between cast and their agents could prove to be the final straw for ITV’s flagship soap after it recently lost its title as ITV’s most-watched soap to Emmerdale, and disappointing festive viewing figures have only fuelled predictions that its end may be near 64 years after it began.
Whispers of betrayal, fear, and fury are swirling amid a mass cast exodus, with insiders painting a picture of turmoil behind the scenes.
Things have been come so bad that 22 cast members left last year and five more are due to depart in the coming months.
And now MailOnline can reveal that members of the Corrie cast have been left ‘disgusted’ after the show’s top talent agent, Melanie Blake, suggested fan-favourite Maria Connor, played by Samia Longchambon, will be the next star to be axed.
Whispers of betrayal, fear, and fury are swirling amid a mass Corrie cast exodus, with insiders painting a picture of turmoil behind the scenes. Things have been come so bad that 22 cast members left last year and five more are due to depart in the coming months
And now MailOnline can reveal that members of the Corrie cast have been left ‘disgusted’ after the show’s top talent agent, Melanie Blake, suggested fan-favourite Maria Connor, played by Samia Longchambon, will be the next star to be axed
A source told MailOnline: ‘Samia is one of the most popular members of the Corrie cast, she is absolutely adored. To suggest that she should be axed and lose her job is just disgusting.’
The insider revealed: ‘Corrie has always been a nice place to work but Melanie’s words have prompted much anger within.’
Samia’s friends on the show are said to be ‘disgusted someone would openly say she would be sacked,’ particularly when this person is ‘one of her castmates’ agents.’
‘So many people are worried about their futures at Corrie. We need to stick together, not have our agents going at others,’ the source continued.
Melanie represents some of the top talent on the show including Claire Sweeney, 53, Jennie McAlpine, 40, along with former Corrie star Claire King, 63, and former EastEnders’ actress Laila Morse, 79.
She has previously used her social media platforms to claim she has been responsible for returning ‘legendary soap queens’ back to the screens.
But in a social media tirade last week, Melanie took to X to ask her 30,700 followers to vote ‘who you would like to see axed immediately.’
‘Maria out for me 1st plz #taxi,’ she wrote.
A source told MailOnline: ‘Samia is one of the most popular members of the Corrie cast, she is absolutely adored. To suggest that she should be axed and lose her job is just disgusting’
The insider revealed: ‘Corrie has always been a nice place to work but Melanie’s words have prompted much anger within’
Samia, 42, who has played Maria since 2000, quickly responded: ‘What have I ever done to you?’
In a now-deleted response, Melanie replied: ‘You haven’t upset me darling, I’ve met you and your lovely, l just think ‘Maria’ has had a really good on screen run years length of time but didn’t doesn’t get the stories she needs for me – to stay invested in on what is clearly going to be a tightening up on numbers.’
‘I picked your character for me as I wouldn’t miss ‘her’ & I find Gary more interesting without her – that’s just me! She’s in the danger zone unless you have great stuff coming up we haven’t see yet!’ she continued.
Samia, seemingly unimpressed by Melanie’s response, wrote back: ‘So, basically, ‘nothing personal but you think I should be fired’. Thanks. Wishing you all the best Melanie.’
Last year Samia appeared in 92 out of 157 Corrie episodes, as viewers saw her at the centre of a heartbreaking bullying storyline that left her teenage son Liam contemplating suicide.
And she has been at the heart of some of Weatherfield’s most gripping plots, from her ill-fated marriage to Liam Connor and his shocking murder in 2008, to her dramatic stint in prison for a sham marriage in 2016.
But over two decades of service to the show may not be enough to shield Samia from what appears to be a troubling shake-up on the cobbles.
It comes as doom-laden rumours suggest panic behind the scenes, with six cast members announcing their departures in just two months.
Since November, Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley), Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster), Colson Smith (Craig Tinker), Luca Toolan (Mason Radcliffe) and Shelley King (Yasmeen Nazir) have all announced they will be leaving the show though some are not through choice.
It is understood that Cleaver asked to go early last year but was asked to hold off until Helen Worth – Gail Chadwick had departed.
Other actors have reportedly shared furious messages on a WhatsApp group amid fears they could be next as new boss Kate Brookes is being described as the one ‘wielding the axe’ and in charge of the blood bath.
The TV veteran – who first served as story producer on the cobbles back in 2012 – left Emmerdale last year after an eight-year stint to take over from Iain MacLeod.
During her time as Emmerdale’s big boss, Kate produced a range of storylines alongside fellow producer Laura Shaw, including serial killer Meena Jutla and Mandy Dingle’s 2019 return after 17 years away, along with Marlon’s stroke, and Faith’s breast cancer storyline in 2022.
At the time, Kate said she gained more than she ‘ever could have imagined’ both professionally and personally from her time on the Yorkshire Dales-based show, but that she was delighted to make the jump to Weatherfield.
But it is no secret that she has been left with a tough job on her hands because some insiders at Corrie cite Iain MacLeod who was in charge of the programme for six years as series producer as being a contributing factor to the dire state it is in. Sources on the show said that he was ‘too close’ to some of the cast and didn’t want to make the cuts. ‘He was really fond of the cast,’ said one. ‘He didn’t want to deliver bad news to anyone but the down side to that is that we are now in a situation where it is bloodbath time.’
Indeed, there is much fear at the Granada Studios in Manchester. Some of the soap’s mid-ranking actors and younger stars are worried but in fact, it can be revealed, it is those who are on higher salaries but without big storylines who are most at risk.
‘The bosses don’t want to pay actors just to hang around the street, or sit in the Rovers nursing a pint,’ said one.
A solution on the table in a bid to save money are shorter contracts being offered to trim budgets amid declining viewing figures and financial woes.
With doubts over its future it will perhaps come as little surprise that ITV struggled to get someone to take the top job at Corrie when it was looking last year. It can be revealed that a number of sought after television executives turned down the role as they knew it would be impossible to turn around.
ITV chiefs attempted to poach bosses from BBC, Channel 4, and Sky but the chatter about how the show was on its knees was becoming more common and they didn’t want to take a risk to go there. The problem left bosses with a huge headache.
Eventually Brookes took the job, though apparently needed some persuading.
The insider revealed: ‘You really can’t blame Kate for being reluctant to take on the top job at Corrie, but ITV had tried everyone. They went back to her and she finally she agreed. She knew the task ahead and the difficult decisions she’d have to make due to the cast being so big and the current cash crisis at ITV. But she’s come in and is determined to take it back to classic Corrie days.’
It might help. A mere 2.6million viewers tuned in to watch the Christmas Day special which saw Gail Chadwick, played by 74-year-old Helen Worth, leave the show after 50 years.
Daisy Midgeley (played by actress Charlotte) will be leaving the show after four years on the cobbles as she is said to be very ambitious and is wanting to see what is out there
Eileen Grimshaw (played by Sue Cleaver) has had various breaks over recent years, but now she’s leaving for good as she said she would like to explore new adventures
Last year it was confirmed that Debbie Webster (played by Sue Devaney) would be diagnosed with dementia and killed offÂ
PC Craig Tinker (played by Colson Smith) has been written out of the soap after 14 years and his role will come to an end in Autumn 2025Â
Mason Radcliffe (played by Luca Toolan) bowed out in devastating scenes this year as the teen killed off in a knife crime storyline
Yasmeen Metcalfe (played by Shelley King) filmed her final scenes in December with her exit set to play out in early spring
Gail Platt (played by Helen Worth) exited the show after 50 years in December as she relocated abroad with her husbandÂ
 Bethany Platt (played by Lucy Fallon) will soon go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her second child which is said to be temporary
Evelyn Plummer (played by Maureen Lipman) is also said to be taking temporary leave and upon her return will change to a part-time characterÂ
Someone feared to be leaving is Lauren Bolton (played by Cait Fitton) who awaits trial for the murder of Joel Deering
Another character teased to be leaving is David Platt (played by Jack Shepard) as he is set to face a ‘downfall’
Soap viewers immediately feared the departure of soap icon Audrey Roberts (played by Sue Nicholls) after Gail’s exit
Corrie’s longest serving character Ken Barlow (played by William Roache) is currently at the centre of a drug storyline, with his carer Cassie Plummer and so is feared his time could soon be up
Samia’s friends on the show are said to be ‘disgusted someone would openly say she would be sacked,’ particularly when this person is ‘one of her castmates’ agents’
Helen appeared in just 26 episodes in her final year on the soap.
And her final appearance raked in just ten percent of the 27million who watched Hilda Ogden’s farewell in its 1987 heyday.
Corrie ultimately lost the overnight ratings battle to BBC’s Eastenders, and was also easily beaten by the 3million viewers who tuned into The Weakest Link on Christmas Day.
‘Something needs to be done fast,’ said one soap insider. ‘Or it won’t be making its 65th birthday.’
