Her exit has been confirmed for a little while but Millie Gibson has officially left Coronation Street as Kelly Neelan. The actress joined the soap four years ago as Kelly Neelan. But months after bagging her first major role, it was revealed she would be bowing out of the ITV soap.
And fans were actually pleased on Friday night (September 23) when Kelly walked away from Weatherfield in one piece after they were convinced she'd die following a dramatic week of episodes. It all started with the teen discovering her guardian Gary Windass was responsible for her dad's death.
Kelly only found out about her dad earlier this year but believed her mum was responsible for Rick's murder after she confessed while dying from cancer. However, she only covered for Gary so that her daughter would be looked after when she was gone. But it was Rick's former assistant, Sharon, who broke the news to Kelly about what really happened.
She soon got a plan for revenge in place, hiring her kidnapper Kieron to bump off Gary for £10,000. During her and Aadi Alahan's extravagant engagement party at the Bistro, Kelly told Gary she knew he had killed her dad and when she legged it out of the restaurant, she led Gary straight into Kieron's path and it wasn't long before he was unconscious, bundled into the back of a van and back in the same woods where he murdered Rick.
But after an exchange with Gary's son Jake and step-son Liam, Kelly had a change of heart and tried to get Kieron to stop with his plan as Gary dug his own grave. But she made a huge mistake and Kieron was soon seen kidnapping her- again. And it was all almost over for Gary and Kelly when Kieron said he'd kill them both.
However, in a surprising twist, it was Kelly's fiance Aadi who got shot. With Kelly on the edge of a roof overlooking the city skyline, Kieron turned his gun on Kelly. He told her to jump before telling his associate to push her off. As he waved the gun at her, Gary arrived but when a shot rang out, it was Aadi who jumped in its path.
And when his gun malfunctioned, there was no more chance for Kieron as sirens began to sound. Later, Kelly broke Aadi's heart when she told him their romance was over and that she had to leave. Back at home, Gary tried to talk her round, telling Kelly what happened with Rick all those years ago.
But in the emotionally charged scenes, Kelly told Gary she wouldn't go to the police but that she couldn't forgive him for what he had done. And despite them both sharing an 'I love you', Kelly left and walked off down the street to start a new life while Gary broke down in Maria's arms.
Following the end of episode, Millie took to Instagram to share a final message with fans of the long-running soap. She typed a heartfelt message alongside a string of pictures from her last days filming on the famous street. The first showed her in Kelly's glam red dress holding a clapperboard while another showed her final script in which it directs Kelly to the tram stop as she planned to start a new life as 'just Kelly'.
"It’s with a very heavy, but full heart that it is time to say goodbye to Kelly Neelan," Millie typed alongside the images. "These past 4 years have been like no other and I can’t begin to describe how much I’m going to miss this place and the people in it. Everyone that has been a part of this storyline has been nothing but incredible and I couldn’t have asked for a better block to end on.
"I’ve had the honour of being surrounded by such talent and kindness over the years and have met friends and a second family for life. I’ll never forget my time here or the memories it has given me. I can’t say thank you enough for letting me be a small piece of the Coronation Street family. Bye for now, Kel."
And her Corrie co-stars were soon flooding the comments with messages. Max Turner actor Paddy Bever said: "W e love u mil." Georiga Taylor, who stars as Toyah Habeeb in the ITV soap, wrote: " Go fly darling girl. I love you so much." Craig Tinker star Colson Smith penned: "Goood luck Gibbo."
Asha Alahan actress, and Millie's bestie, Tasha Gorey told her: "My baby forever." While her former on-screen mum Kel Allen gushed: "So, so proud of you my girl. Cannot wait to watch you smash these episodes out of the park, when I’m back in the UK. Celebrations when I’m home. NEELANS FOREVER!!! You’ll always be my babba."
Former Corrie star Charlie De Melo, who was killed off as Imran Habeeb earlier this year, commented using Millie's real name, typing: " I am so proud of you, Amelia." While Alexandra Mardell, who also quit the soap as Emma Brooker this year, added: "G o on gorj girlie!!"
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