ITV Coronation Street's star quits soap after 11 years as fans doubt shows future

Coronation Street's Shelley King, who has portrayed Yasmeen Nazir for a remarkable 11 years, is set to depart from the soap. Shelley, aged 69, first graced the cobbles as Yasmeen in 2014 and is scheduled to bid farewell to Weatherfield later this year.

Reports suggest she has wrapped up her filming, with her character set to vanish from the show following her final scenes airing in March.

Shelley's departure marks another in a series of high-profile exits from Coronation Street, amidst rumours that the soap is facing challenges managing its budget. Other notable departures include Sue Cleaver, known for her role as Eileen Grimshaw, and Colson Smith, who portrays Craig Tinker, both slated to leave the soap in 2025.

Fans of the show may be disheartened by the news of Shelley's exit, as her portrayal of Yasmeen has won her considerable admiration. Nonetheless, there is anticipation that Shelley will now have opportunities to engage in new ventures, free from the demanding shooting schedule of the ITV series.

An insider disclosed 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 so she can explore other projects.", reports the Mirror.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced suggesting that the ITV soap is financially struggling. It's been reported that beloved characters are being cut to make way for new talent and a younger, less expensive cast.

The Daily Mail reported last week that cast members are discontented with these changes. "In years gone by, stars would receive a standard fee per episode, which meant for major characters, they could rack up a very lucrative pay cheque. " Scenes in the Rovers Return may no longer be filled with characters from the famous fictional street due to the cost of paying actors even for minor roles.

A source previously told The Sun: "The cast loved the days when lots of scenes were filmed in the Rovers because it didn't matter if you had 10 scenes in an episode or just sat in the pub - you'd get paid the same."

"Playing a barmaid or the landlord was a dream gig and would guarantee you got paid a fortune because it didn't matter if you just served someone in the background - you got paid for the episode."

Fans have already noticed that major characters have been appearing far less in recent months.

Helen Worth, the esteemed actress behind Gail Platt for five decades, appeared in a mere 26 episodes out of 304 preceding her departure on Christmas Day 2024. Meanwhile, Mike Le Vell who portrays Kevin Webster, featured in only 46 episodes despite his character's significant cancer plotline.

Fellow star, Sally Ann Matthews, known for playing Jenny Bradley since 1986, shared her discontent about her limited screen time via an online post. She spoke candidly about opting for a spontaneous holiday last year due to a lull in filming, stating: "I chose to get on an aeroplane because I'm particularly quiet at work. I've got, like, a million years off. So, I chose to go on an aeroplane and I chose to remember happier times."