Coronation Street star Charlie De Melo, best known for playing Imran Habeeb, has reportedly quit the ITV soap.
According to The Sun, Charlie – who has played Imran since 2017 – has made the decision to “try new things” after his soap stint.
A source told the publication: “Charlie’s loved his time on the soap but the time is right to try new things.
“He’s hugely talented and very ambitious and wants to see what else is out there.
“He will always cherish his time in Weatherfield but for now it’s goodbye.”
According to reports, Charlie will film his final scenes in the coming months – with his final exit airing this summer.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The Sun reports that a “spectacular” exit has been planned for his character – but what that entails viewers can only guess.
Imran’s final storyline has been teased by show boss Iain MacLeod, who told Metro: “It threatens to destroy Imran and Toyah’s relationship as Toyah does not know the full truth. It tests the bounds of Toyah’s forgiveness to the max.
“Imran is forced to look in a mirror and consider himself and the man who he is – he could go to the dark side.”
(Image: Charlie De Melo Instagram)
It comes as his character Imran is involved in an affair storyline with Abi Webster – causing her husband Kevin to leave her.
It hasn’t yet emerged on the cobbles that it was Imran Abi slept with, though viewers are already in the know.
With Imran determined to adopt Elsie with his partner Toyah Battersby, it looks like his future happiness could be at risk – especially with Lydia Chambers also intent on destroying fellow solicitor Adam Barlow’s life.
(Image: ITV)
If she turns her attention to their shared business, things could turn sour for Imran too.
Among his biggest storylines in the soap have been sticking up for youngster Kelly Neelan in court after she was wrongly charged with the murder of Seb Franklin, dating both Battersby sisters and dealing with the death of his sister Rana.
Coronation Street hasn’t been Charlie’s only soap role – as he also appeared in EastEnders as PC Jaz Jones for a total of five episodes.
He has also appeared in both Casualty and Doctors in his extensive acting career, along with appearing as a regular character in the 2015 series The Interceptor.
Coronation Street airs from 7:30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
