Tisha Merry has quit 'Coronation Street'.
Tisha Merry as Steph Britton
The 23-year-old actress has decided to bow out of the long-running soap as Weatherfield bistro waitress Steph Britton following three years on the show because she wants to spread her wings and try her hand at something different.
A source told The Sun Online: "Tish has had an amazing couple of years where she's been at the fore of some of 'Corrie's biggest storylines, but feels it's now time for a change."
The brunette beauty - whose contract is up next year - has reportedly filmed her departure scenes but bosses are remaining tight lipped on how her alter ego will exit the cobbles.
Rumours of her exit began swirling last week when her loose-lipped co-star Catherine Tyldesley - who portrays busty blonde barmaid Eva Price - accidentally posted a photograph online of her, Tisha and Katie McGlynn alongside a heartfelt caption.
She said: "#throwback ... these sexy ladies. Gonna miss our Tish @katiexmcglynn @missdrewmerry93, (sic)" followed by three kiss emojis.
And it seems Tisha isn't the only one departing the popular soap over the next few months as it's believed a huge explosion will rock Weatherfield in due course and turn things upside down again as "at least one" of the characters is likely to die in a new storyline.
A source said previously: "This is going to be up there with some of the best scenes in Corrie history. Characters are going to be crawling through flames to escape, and there's talk of killing at least one character."
And Kate Oates, the show's new producer, has also reportedly lined up director Tony Prescott - who has worked on all of 'Coronation Street's live episodes - to ensure things go swimmingly.
The insider added: "The plans being put together are huge and Kate bringing in Tony shows that it's going to be far from a straightforward one.
"Tony is considered one of the big guns of directing because he's great with complicated and intense storylines. Kate also loves a big stunt. She was behind the helicopter crash on 'Emmerdale' which killed off Ruby Haswell. It's going to be carnage."
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