Time to say GOODBYE

ALEXANDRA MARDELL on why she's leaving Weatherfield

- ALISON SLADE

CORONATION STREET MON,WED & FRI, 8PM, ITV SOAP

Emma Brooker has brought a touch of sparkle to Coronation Street since arriving on the cobbles in 2018, with her ditzy one-liners and her hapless quest to find Mr Right.

Now, the unlucky-in-love barmaid has found 'the one'... but there's a catch.

Handsome Jon just happens to be the grandson of Ted, the pensioner who died after Faye Windass accidentally ran him over while she and Emma were returning from a party. Emma has kept quiet about their highway horror to protect her pal, but this week, mere hours after Jon has asked Emma to move to Australia with him, Faye tells him the truth.

Will Emma get her fairy-tale ending, or swap her trademark pink outfits for prison fatigues? One thing's for sure she will be leaving Weatherfield, as actor Alexandra Mardell has called time on the role.

TV Times caught up with Alexandra, 28, to find out more...

You've previously said being in Corrie was a career goal. It must have been a difficult decision to leave...

It was really difficult; even now, I'm like, 'What have I done?!' I know it's right for me, but I can see so easily how people stay there for years because it's an amazing place to work.

I just wanted to play another character. As much as I've got to explore Emma in lots of ways, there are other people I want to try and give a go.

Did you always plan to stay on the show for just a certain length of time?

Not really, because my initial contract was only for six months anyway. That wasn't long enough - I was praying that I'd get to stick around a bit longer.

The time that I've done is a good chunk, and I'm pleased with that. I've been lucky with the stories that I've had, and I think I've been able to show lots of different sides of Emma.