Coronation Street fans were left gutted this week when Imran Habeeb met a tragic end. The ITV soap character, played by Charlie De Melo, had experienced a fall from grace in recent months after secretly fathering a baby with Abi Franklin before playing dirty to make sure he got custody of his son.
However, the solicitor was trying to come good in the end and was getting ready to confess to getting paralegal, Ben, to lie in court about claims mechanic Abi was back on drugs. After a dressing down from former foster daughter Kelly Neelan and pleas from Kevin Webster, Imran was on his way to tell Toyah the truth after setting up a meeting with Abi's solicitor.
However, in shocking scenes, Imran died before the truth could prevail after being involved in a car crash alongside new wife Toyah. While Imran was the hero as he pulled Toyah from the wreckage, before scaffolding collapsed onto their already wrecked vehicle, it was the new dad and husband who tragically lost his life after he suddenly collapsed from a cardiac arrest on the scene as his wife was loaded into an ambulance.
READ MORE: ITV Coronation Street's Charlie De Melo shares sweet reason he'll never appear in another soap
Since then, viewers' suspicions about the reason for the crash have been rife after Abi and husband Kevin Webster were cleared of any tampering with the car and the police revealed that the brakes in the car weren't used in the lead up to the smash. While the aftermath plays out on-screen, Imran star Charlie has been getting used to life without his alter ego.
And that has included going for a new look. The 32-year-old actor, who left the soap after nearly five years, took to Twitter as he marked the end of his character by shaving off his beard. Uploading a picture to the platform, a clean-shaved Charlie could be seen holding up what looks like a script.
"Felt chatty, will delete later," he wrote alongside the snap which was soon being flooded with comments. The Talk of the Street, aka @corriepodcast, replied: "Aw, Corrie took Imran's beard back? Shame!" @littlevienna said: "Look at you, all beardless!" @miss1katy wrote: "Wow beard completely gone!!"
@welshjaci commented: "OMG as if it were possible for you to be even MORE handsome, here you go! Love it!" @LESLEYJ31420383 shared: "Love the loss of your beard."
It comes after Charlie seemingly revealed his real exit date as he shared a goodbye message with Corrie fans. Taking to Instagram, he shared a photo of himself with his back to the camera, walking down a ginnel on the Salford-based set with Imran's suit and the actor's ITV pass in the bin.
A second picture showed the original snap had been altered to look like a comic book page. "15th April 2022 Alchemist Media-City 18.30," a line at the top reads. "Imran Habeeb No More!" another said which was also the caption the departed soap star shared alongside his post.
And his former co-stars were quick to comment. "Icon even in death," Millie Gibson, who plays Kelly in the ITV soap, said. Abi actress Sally Carman wrote: "Bravo my friend." Sally Ann Matthews, aka Rovers Return landlady Jenny Connor, replied: "That actually breaks my heart. BUT. I’m so excited for your next chapter. Go fly Boy Charlie."
Todd Grimshaw actor Gareth Pierce simply said: "Sweet Prince," while B havna Limbachia, who played his on-screen sister Rana before her tragic death, commented: " Super proud of you Broski. It’s been an honour and privilege sharing the screen with you. Couldn’t have asked for a better on-screen brother. Keep shining Broski. Love you lot."
Kel Allen, who left the soap earlier this year in emotional scenes as Laura Neelan, added: " Imran will live on forever in our hearts," before sharing her own tribute with an un-seen snap from what appears to be Charlie's leaving doo. " Terrah to our Imran," she said as she, Georgia Taylor (Toyah), Harriet Bibby (Summer), Millie and Charlie could be seen in a candid snap.
"@charliedemelo you absolute talented beaut, cannot wait to see you smash the eps when I get back. Go forth and conker r kid. Sending big love from Zanzibar bab."
