Shayne says his goodbyes
CORONATION Street star Shayne Ward is leaving the soap. Popular character Aidan Connor is departing the ITV1 show next year after winning an army of fans.
Shayne, the 2016 winner of Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards, will be on screen until spring 2018.
Producers are now working on an exit storyline for Clayton actor Shayne, who shot to fame as the winner of the second series of singing show the X Factor in 2005.
A source said: “Shayne will leave at the end of his current contract and Aidan will be on screen for a further six months.”
This year Shayne’s factory boss character Aidan was at the centre of the drama when he had an affair with neighbour Maria Connor. His bride Eva Price, played by Catherine Tyldesley, discovered the terribly truth and hatched a revenge plan that saw his beloved Underworld completely ransacked.
He arrived on the show in August 2015 to come to the rescue of troubled former factory boss Carla Connor played by Alison King.
His first line in the soap after surprising Carla by walking unannounced into Underworld was: “Well I’ve had warmer welcomes.”
Aidan is a distant cousin of Michelle Connor, played by Kym Marsh, and he grew up on the same estate as her and Carla.
On landing the role Shayne said: “I’m a massive Corrie fan and a big soap fan in general.”
Before Corrie Shayne received a nomination at the 2012 What’s On Stage Awards for his role in the musical Rock of Ages in the West End, and he appeared in Jeff Wayne’s Stage version of War of the Worlds.
His character was first of the Connor clan to arrive in Weatherfield, followed by his dad Johnny and sister Kate.
Last December Shayne welcomed a daughter Willow with girlfriend Sophie Austin.