Coronation Street has confirmed that James Bailey will be saying goodbye to Weatherfield in upcoming scenes. It was rumoured last week that Nathan Graham had quit the ITV soap after three years.
And it appears the rumours are true as latest spoilers show retired Weatherfield Country footballer James will head for pastures new after deciding to officially end his football career after collapsing on the pitch earlier this month. The sportsman hid his credentials in order to join the Rovers Return versus Flying Horse football match.
When the Flying Horse took the lead it was over to James to try and win the match. With only minutes remaining, James gave the game his all, putting the Rovers in front. But suddenly he collapsed and his dad Ed rushed across the pitch frantically calling an ambulance as eldest son Michael performs CPR.
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He was later told he had suffered a cardiac arrest but will make a recovery. However, his footballing career was hanging by a thread as they were now aware he suffers from a heart condition known as cardiomyopathy. And in scenes aired in the ITV soap on Monday night (September 26), fans saw James officially decide to cut his contract with his beloved football team.
As he sorts a pay-off from the club, next week, Corrie viewers will see James starting to think about his future and he's left intrigued when his uncle Ronnie mentions a youth centre near Lewisham, which is looking for a football coach. Realising it’s close to where boyfriend Danny lives, James promises to call them straight away.
An excited James later tells Ronnie that he got the job at the youth centre and starts the following day. In the bistro, James breaks the news to the family that he’s landed a great new job, but it means moving to London. Ed, Aggie, Michael and sister Dee-Dee, who only just arrived on the cobbles bid an emotional farewell to James as he leaves the street.
With the news already being shared on Corrie's social channels, fans have been reacting to the soap's latest exit. Diana FitzGerald said: "I really liked James’s character, nice young guy." Amy Unangst commented: "I wish James’ character would have stayed and had a more in depth storyline. I think he’s a great character and actor well played."
Actor Nathan joined the ITV soap in 2019 as part of the Bailey family. Nathan is believed to have studied musical theatre at Bird College and his only other television credit is for the short film Bus Stop Romeo. But he has had stage success, having appeared in Dreamgirls, Miss Saigon, 20th Century Boy and Loserville.
And it is pre-Corrie career that leads to his links to famous TV double act Ant and Dec. The 31-year-old actually appeared as a back-up dancer on the duo's hit ITV show Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway back in 2015.
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