Harry Visinoni says it’s “been an honour and a privilege” playing Seb Franklin in ‘Coronation Street’ after his character died on Friday (07.05.21).
![Harry Visinoni](/image-library/partners/bang/land/1000/h/harry-visinoni-aW1hZ2VzMS8yMDE5LzAyLzI2LzA4NjQxNjkwMDE1NTExN.jpg)
Harry Visinoni
The actor has played Seb on the ITV soap since 2016, and in Friday’s episode, fans were left horrified when his character tragically died from the injuries he sustained in a hate attack against him and his girlfriend Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher).
And following the episode, Harry took to social media to thank fans for the support, and to say his final farewell to the cobbles.
He wrote: “Goodbye Coronation Street!
“It's been a wild 5 years on the cobbles, and I've loved every second. I've made memories that I will cherish forever and have worked with the most amazing people. I couldn't have dreamt of a better way to spend these years of my life. Thank you so much for all the support Seb has received throughout his turbulent time on the street, and thank you so much for the amazing response to this immensely important and relevant storyline. There couldn't have been a more worthy end for Seb. It was an honour to be trusted to tell this harrowing story and I hope that we have been able to make a difference and raise awareness.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege.
“Lots of love, Harry.”
Seb and Nina were attacked by a gang of teens - including Corey Brent (Maximus Evans) and Kelly Neelan (Millie Gibson) - because of their goth culture, in scenes which mirrored the real-life murder of Sophie Lancaster, who died in 2007 aged 20 when she was stamped to death for being a goth.
Throughout the storyline, Sophie’s mother Dr. Sylvia Lancaster helped the ‘Corrie’ cast and crew with the details, and previously said she hopes the soap can help bring awareness to the abuse people face for being different.
She said: "I know first-hand the abuse, harassment and violence that alternative people suffer. Hate crime is usually directed at already stigmatised and minority groups and Sophie was assaulted three times before that final, sustained and brutal attack that took her life – but she never reported the earlier assaults.
"'Coronation Street' covering this issue means such a huge amount to me. We want alternative people to know that they shouldn’t be putting up with this prejudice and intolerance, and they should report it.
"We want the wider community to really appreciate the horror of this violence and understand that difference in itself, is not frightening, it just makes us all who we are.
"We will also use this platform to continue raising awareness of Sophie’s case with the police and judiciary to make sure that hate crime against alternative people is recognised and treated with the degree of severity that it deserves."