Les Dennis is set to leave 'Coronation Street.'
Les Dennis
The 62-year-old actor will wave goodbye to his cheeky alter-ego Michael Rodwell in the ITV soap in order to follow his dreams of starring in the production of Alan Bleasdale's 'Down the Dock Road' at Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre.
He said: "It's a dream come true for me."
However, Les' departure will be temporarily and he will return as he's already signed a year-long contract with the soap that will keep him on screens throughout 2016.
He explained to The Sun newspaper: "I will really be looking forward to get back to rekindle my soap role. I still pinch myself that I am in the show."
News that Les - who is also known for presenting the game show 'Family Fortunes' - is turning his back on 'Corrie' for a little while comes just two months after Brooke Vincent - who plays Sophie Webster - announced she will also be leaving the show to star in her first theatre production next year.
David Neilson - who plays loveable cafe owner Roy Cropper - has also told bosses he's quitting to pursue other projects, while Alison King, who plays factory boss Carla Connor, is also set to depart for an unspecified length of holiday.
Meanwhile, it was recently announced Ryan Thomas, who plays hunky builder Jason Grimshaw, had quit the soap for the foreseeable future and will leave in the summer, while Eileen Derbyshire - who portrays Emily Bishop - sent fans into a panic when it was revealed she'd requested time off.
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