KYM MARSH’S OK! COLUMN

OUR COLUMNIST TELLS US ALL ABOUT HER ‘SURREAL’ FINAL DAY AT ‘CORONATION STREET’ AND BEING SPOILT ROTTEN BY HER CO-STARS

I’ve obviously known I was leaving Coronation Street for a long time but my last day was so emotional! It felt surreal. It was sad, sitting in the dressing room I share with Alison King, to think I was having my hair and make-up done as my character Michelle, for the last time.

My dad, mum and Emilie came down to watch me shoot my last scenes. David wanted to come but couldn’t get out of work, which he was gutted about. I can’t give too much away about the final scenes – expect some drama! – but it felt strange to think, after all those years, I wouldn’t be filming in the Rovers, the bistro or the cobbles again. I felt quite overwhelmed, so it took a few takes!

I was spoilt rotten by the cast and crew who bought me flowers and lots of presents. Coronation Street’s John Whiston, head of ITV in the north, also did a touching speech, which was lovely.

After we’d wrapped up, a few of us, including Alison King, James Burrows, Ryan Prescott, Richard Hawley and loads of the Corrie crew headed to the pub [above right] to toast the end of an era. I had a few wines and shed a few tears!

I’m excited about what’s next for me but I’m sad to say goodbye to my Corrie family.

A few days earlier, some of us went to Tristan Gemmill’s leaving do [below] as he filmed his last scenes a few days before me. Lots of the cast turned up, including Mikey North, which was lovely.

Tristan [who plays Michelle’s fiancé Robert Preston] is a lovely man and I’ve had a great time working with him over the last three years. He did a lot before the show and I’m sure he’ll go on to do a lot afterwards too. I’ll miss him lots but we will keep in touch. I’ll also really miss Kerri Quinn [who plays Vicky Jefferies]. She has fast become one of my good friends and I think she’s such a magnificent actress.