Coronation Street legend prepares to exit after 15 years: ‘I can’t believe this is nearly over’

Coronation Street’s Alex Bain has shared a heartfelt message as he prepares to leave the cobbles after 15 years.

Alex, 22,has played the role of Simon Barlow for the past 15 years, but is expected to depart the show within the next few months.

The actor, who joined Corrie when he was just seven years old, recently updated his Instagram stories confirming to fans he doesn’t have long left at the studios.

Sharing a picture in his dressing room, Alex wrote alongside: ‘I can’t believe this is nearly over. I am going to miss this place so dearly.’

Simon’s downward spiral began at the start of the year, shortly after his dad Peter (Chris Gascoyne) left the cobbles.

Feeling isolated, Simon turned to drinking alcohol to numb what he was feeling.

As his dependency on booze spiralled, Simon ended up putting himself and Sam (Jude Riordan) in danger when he crashed Leanne’s (Jane Danson) car.

After Sam passed out and ended up in hospital, Leanne was forced to tell Nick (Ben Price) that the collision happened because Simon was under the influence.

Prior to the exit, Simon and Leanne become entwined in ‘The Institute’, a dangerous cult that is masking itself as a self-help group at the Chariot Square Hotel.

He first attended the seminars in recent episodes and was driven there by his mum in the wake of his drink driving ban.

The two were instantly charmed by the lecturer Rowan (Emrhys Cooper), who took great pride in the flattering comments they both gave him.

This isn’t the first time the ITV show has dealt with a cult storyline – in 1998, Zoe Tattersall (Joanne Froggatt) was introduced to the Etheric Foundation, a group of people that sold crystals and worshipped their leader Nirab (a fun anagram on then incumbent producer Brian Park)