A Coronation Street icon has finally said goodbye to the cobbles after 15 years on the show.
Alex Bain played the legendary role of Simon Barlow on the ITV soap for 15 years. Having joined the show back in 2008, the actor would go on to have some of the biggest storylines in the show, including a harrowing bullying plot that left viewers on the edge of their seats.
But after a decade and a half on set, Monday (June 3) marked the end of Alex’s time on the show as his final scenes were aired for the public. Taking to social media after the episode aired, Bain shared a heartfelt post thanking everyone for their involvement in the show.
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In the emotional final scenes, Simon gave Leanne a tight embrace as he made the tough decision to leave Weatherfield behind. He decided that it was best for him to leave the street to live with dad Peter Barlow, played by Chris Gascoyne, who also recently quit the show.
On Instagram, the official Coronation Street account shared some behind-the-scenes footage of the scene being filmed. Alex then gave an emotional speech to fans as he paid tribute to the team behind the legendary British soap.
Sitting at the outside of the set, close to Gail’s home with the Rovers across the road in the background, Alex commended those who followed his acting journey on the soap. “I just want to say a quick message from me and my character Simon to all the fans of Coronation Street,” he said.
“I just wanted to say that it’s been a fantastic experience,” he added. “I’ve loved being here, and I’ve loved being a part of the nation’s favourite Street.”
(Image: Instagram)
He finished off his little tribute by saying: “And I just wanted to say a big old thank you to everybody who supported me over the years, all the people I’ve worked with. It’s been an honour and I will always cherish my time here on Coronation Street.”
Signing off the emotional video, many of Alex’s co-stars inundated the video with messages of love and support and he moves on to pastures new. Alex’s on-screen mum Jane Danson, said that it was the “end of an era”, but wished Bain well in his future projects.
Similarly, Elle Mulvaney, who played his on-screen cousin Amy Barlow, wished him well with a simple message: “All the best, Alex!” Coronation Street has been an important part of Alex’s life, having joined the soap when he was just seven years old.
Now aged, 22, he explained that the show was “the backbone” of his life, but admitted that he was in search of something new. “I felt very positive about it, but I am 22 now and maybe it is time to see what the future holds.
“It isn’t just a job, you become part of a family and I will always have those people in my life,” he also said. “They aren’t just colleagues, they are friends. Obviously anybody leaving feels sad about saying goodbye to people but any sadness is a small part of it.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
