Coronation Street star Nathan Graham has confirmed he has quit the long-running soap.
The James Bailey actor will be saying goodbye to Weatherfield in upcoming scenes, after starring in the show for three years. James will leave the cobbles after deciding to officially end his football career earlier this month.
As he decides what to do next, James will become intrigued when his uncle Ronnie mentions a youth club near where boyfriend Danny lives is looking for a new coach.
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Nathan, 30, said he is pleased Corrie bosses didn't kill his character off. He said: "They gave him a heart attack so they could have killed him. I was fully aware of the fact that once you have decided to leave it is out of your hands and they can do whatever they want for the character to go.
"So I was pleased when I found out that it was a happy ending for James and it is nice to know I could potentially come back in the future to see the family."
Nathan said he felt the "time is right" to leave and "step out of [his] comfort zone". He also admitted he took a special keepsake from the Corrie dressing room.
He added: "I couldn't leave without his Weatherfield County shirt as a keepsake with his name and number on the back."
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV and the ITV Hub
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