Coronation Street actress Channique Sterling-Brown has seemingly filmed her final scenes for the long-running ITV soap, posting an emotional tribute to her castmates whom she called the 'best humans to know and work with'.
A Fond Farewell From the Cobbles
The 28-year-old star, who joined the show in 2022 as lawyer Dee-Dee Bailey, shared a poignant snapshot on her Instagram story. The image featured her alongside veteran actor David Neilson, 76, who plays Roy Cropper, on the iconic Roy's Rolls set. Her caption confirmed this was her last time sharing the screen with the Weatherfield team.
News of Sterling-Brown's departure first emerged earlier this year, with sources confirming it was the actress's own decision to leave. An insider revealed posters had gone up around the Coronation Street set, informing the cast and crew of her exit. A second source highlighted her talent and ambition, suggesting 'the world will be her oyster.'
Dee-Dee Bailey's Dramatic Three-Year Stint
Sterling-Brown later confirmed the news directly to fans on social media, describing her time on the show as 'three whirlwind years' and stating it was 'bittersweet to be saying goodbye.' She expressed excitement for 'pastures new,' which includes her ongoing role portraying Princess Diana in a separate project.
Her character, Dee-Dee, was introduced as part of the established Bailey family. During her tenure, she was thrust into some of the soap's most hard-hitting plots. Most notably, she was central to the storyline involving villain Joel Deering (Calum Lill), fighting to expose his grooming and abuse of young women.
The narrative took further dramatic turns when Dee-Dee became pregnant with Joel's baby, decided against an abortion, and then became a victim of a shocking medical negligence case rooted in racism. Complications during the birth led to her character undergoing a hysterectomy. Dee-Dee has since been raising her daughter, Laila, with support from her brother James.
More recently, she developed a romance with newcomer Ollie, played by Raphael Akuwudike, who was later revealed to be part of the incoming Driscoll family.
A Trend of Low-Key Exits on the Street
Sterling-Brown's departure follows a pattern of recent exits from the cobbles. Actor and comedian Jack Carroll, who played Bobby Crawford, also recently left the show after 18 months. His character departed quietly for a holiday, a move Carroll appreciated.
'That seems to be the trend in the way that they do exits now,' Carroll told The Sun, explaining that a low-key departure offers flexibility for future storylines. 'I was kind of grateful that they gave me that opportunity... and didn't kind of kill me off.' The BAFTA-winning 27-year-old is now focusing on a national comedy tour launching in February 2025.
Coronation Street continues to air on ITV1 and is available for streaming on ITVX.
