More chaos has unfolded at Coronation Street as one soap boss has quit for a rival show.
The news comes after six major Corrie stars have been written off, or left the show, in recent weeks.
Head of Production Lee Rayner has been at the Cobbles for over ten years but will be leaving to jump over to Channel 4’s popular show Hollyoaks.
After joining the soap in 2011, Rayner will be taking over the reigns as Head of Production from Colette Chard, who is reportedly set to be heading over to a children’s drama at Lime Pictures, which is the same production company as the soap.
Rayner said he was delighted about his new role at Channel 4: “I am thrilled to be embarking on a new adventure at Lime Pictures as Head of Production for Hollyoaks and helping to deliver such an engaging high-end drama.
“I’m also very excited to reunite once again with the incredibly talented Hannah Cheers and really looking forward to getting to know and working with the production team, who have an industry-wide reputation as highly-skilled filmmakers.
“I will also miss Coronation Street, my 13 years with the programme has flown by and I have loved working on such an iconic show and working alongside such talented and passionate people.”
There have been several stars to leave in the last few weeks including Max Turner, Gail Platt left for a new life in France with her husband Jesse, portrayed by John Thomson. Paddy’s exit follows a string of other departures from the cast, some voluntary and others written out.
The cast members set to exit include Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley) and Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster), who will remain on screen until 2026. Furthermore, Colson Smith, known for his role as Craig Tinker, will depart as his contract was not extended, along with Luca Toolan who played Mason Radcliffe and whose character was recently killed off.
Soap insiders recently said that a major budget crisis was behind the cast firings.
A source said: “Corrie is on its knees financially and bosses are being forced to make hard decisions” thanks to TV production costs soaring while the advertising market funding them has all-but collapsed. “The cast are not happy but ITV have no choice but to slash costs.”
However, show bosses have dismissed any talk of a crisis, citing the natural “ebb and flow” of characters in Weatherfield. Many of those departing, including Sue Cleaver after a quarter of a century and Shelley King after 11 years, gave producers plenty of notice to weave their exits into the storyline.
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