Katherine Kelly has revealed she is leaving Coronation Street to concentrate on her personal life.
The 31-year-old actress, who has starred as Becky McDonald in the ITV soap since 2006, admitted she will find it difficult to leave the show after forming a close bond with the cast and crew.
However, Kelly says she has been told the door will be 'left open' in case she wants to return to the soap in the future.
In an exclusive interview with Hello! magazine, Kelly said: 'It's absolutely nothing to do with Coronation Street but everything to do with me.
'It's about there being things I want to do. I wish I could cut myself in half - one half go off and explore lots of different things and the other half stay.'
'It's never been about money, and as for bigger and better stories, my goodness - how could you get bigger stories than those Becky has had?
'The fact that I have stayed so long is a testimony to the writers and the producers - they made it utterly irresistible.'
But Kelly said she can't wait to spend more time with friends and family after leaving the show.
She said: 'There are lots of people in my life I just don’t get the chance to see as much as I would like.
'The down side has been missing special events in my family and friends’ lives.'
Kelly's character will remain on screen until early 2012 and will depart in an 'explosive' storyline to begin next month.
ITV said: 'Viewers will see Becky go into meltdown when social services start investigating her 'purchase' of her sister's son Max.
'Believing Tracy Barlow has reported her to the authorities, Becky goes on the rampage - putting Tracy's life in jeopardy and risking the future of her marriage to Steve McDonald.'
The character of Becky McDonald was a former drug addict and jailbird, who turned her life around with the help of Roy and Hayley Cropper.
She was briefly engaged to Jason Grimshaw before getting together with Steve McDonald when he provided her with an alibi after she was arrested for going on a drunken rampage.
Steve and Becky had two weddings, after she turned up so drunk at the first one the registrar refused to marry them.
Recently the character, desperate for a child of her own, was seen "buying" her nephew Max from her sister Kylie, and looting the corner shop as Sunita lay injured following the tram crash.
Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson said: 'Katherine is a talented actress who has made the character of Becky a firm favourite with the viewers for the past 5 years and we will miss her as an actress and a valued member of the Coronation Street family.
'That said we totally respect her desire to move on and viewers can certainly look forward to an electrifying nine months of gripping storylines involving Becky McDonald as we head towards her departure from Weatherfield.'
The 31-year-old actress, who has starred as Becky McDonald in the ITV soap since 2006, admitted she will find it difficult to leave the show after forming a close bond with the cast and crew.
However, Kelly says she has been told the door will be 'left open' in case she wants to return to the soap in the future.
Time to go: Katherine Kelly has confirmed she is leaving Coronation Street to concentrate on her personal life
'It's about there being things I want to do. I wish I could cut myself in half - one half go off and explore lots of different things and the other half stay.'
'It's never been about money, and as for bigger and better stories, my goodness - how could you get bigger stories than those Becky has had?
Wedding day: Katherine as Becky McDonald on her wedding day to Steve (Simon Gregson)
Drunk bride: Katherine has been keeping Coronation Street viewers entertained with her antics
But Kelly said she can't wait to spend more time with friends and family after leaving the show.
She said: 'There are lots of people in my life I just don’t get the chance to see as much as I would like.
'The down side has been missing special events in my family and friends’ lives.'
Fight night: In this scene, feisty Becky is seen arguing with her sister Kylie (Paula Lane)
ITV said: 'Viewers will see Becky go into meltdown when social services start investigating her 'purchase' of her sister's son Max.
'Believing Tracy Barlow has reported her to the authorities, Becky goes on the rampage - putting Tracy's life in jeopardy and risking the future of her marriage to Steve McDonald.'
Farewell: Katherine joined the soap in 2006
She was briefly engaged to Jason Grimshaw before getting together with Steve McDonald when he provided her with an alibi after she was arrested for going on a drunken rampage.
Steve and Becky had two weddings, after she turned up so drunk at the first one the registrar refused to marry them.
Recently the character, desperate for a child of her own, was seen "buying" her nephew Max from her sister Kylie, and looting the corner shop as Sunita lay injured following the tram crash.
Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson said: 'Katherine is a talented actress who has made the character of Becky a firm favourite with the viewers for the past 5 years and we will miss her as an actress and a valued member of the Coronation Street family.
'That said we totally respect her desire to move on and viewers can certainly look forward to an electrifying nine months of gripping storylines involving Becky McDonald as we head towards her departure from Weatherfield.'
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