Coronation Street’s Shelley King, known for her role as Yasmeen Nazir over an impressive 11-year stint, is reportedly set to bid farewell to the soap.
The 69 year old actress first graced the cobbles as Yasmeen in 2014 and is due to exit Weatherfield later this year.
It’s believed she has wrapped up filming, with her character expected to disappear from the show following her final scenes in March.
Shelley’s departure is one of several high-profile exits from Coronation Street, amid whispers that the soap is grappling with budget constraints.
Other key cast members, including Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgelet), Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw) and Colson Smith (Craig Tinker), are also departing the soap by 2025.
Fans may be saddened by the news of Shelley’s departure, as her portrayal of Yasmeen has earned her significant acclaim.
An insider revealed to The Sun: “This will be another blow for fans of the show, as Yasmeen is a much-loved character who’s part of the fabric of Corrie. She’s had some huge storylines since she joined the soap in 2014, and she’ll be sorely missed by cast and crew.”
It’s understood she is leaving to “explore other projects.”, reports Lancs Live. Yasmeen was at the centre of a high-profile coercive control storyline from May 2019, involving her second husband Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholomew).
The storyline reached its climax in May 2020, when Geoff gave Yasmeen chlamydia after sleeping with sex workers, leading her to stab him in the throat with a broken glass bottle when he threatened her with a kitchen knife.
The Nazir family are the first Muslim family on the show. ITV has been contacted for a comment.
Coronation Street is on ITV at 8pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and available to stream from 7am on ITVX