Beverley Callard has explained the poignant reasons behind her bombshell decision to quit Coronation Street .
The actress, who has played Liz McDonald in the soap for 30 years, announced her
She has since appeared on Monday's Loose Women to give further insight into the decision and admitted she had feared barmaid Liz would be killed off in the anniversary specials next year.
"I did think, because it’s [the show] 60 next year, I thought they’ll kill me," Beverley confessed.
However, bosses have assured Beverley they have other ideas for Liz's exit.
"They’re not [going to kill off Liz]. They said they’re not," explained Bev, adding: "I don’t know what it is yet, truly I don’t, they said she will go with a bang. So I’m quite looking forward to that.”
The actress then revealed she would be 'there until summer' and then wave goodbye to Liz.
Beverley added: "I felt I had to go, as I said earlier on in the year, I’m 62 years old…
"Earlier in the year I was doing three jobs at the same time. People say there’s no work for women in this industry, we have to make our own. We have to prove to everybody that we can do it and that’s what we’ve done.
"I’d never retire. You get a script and you think, ‘Oh my goodness, I want to bring this role to life," Beverley told the panel.
She also said it had been an emotional experience breaking news of her departure to her co-stars.
"I told some of them last night, like Simon [Gregson] who plays my son and Kate Ford who plays Tracy, we work so closely together. They knew. They’re really sad. But we’ll still see each other," she said.
Beverley and Simon and their respective partners are firm friends away from the cobbles.
"We do get drunk quite often together. Yes indeed. But I’m not telling you anymore than that," teased Beverley.
The Loose Women stars then asked Beverley if she was tempted to try and steal something from set.
“I certainly won’t be stealing her [Liz’s] clothes… wait until you see her Christmas Day outfit. Oh my goodness, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen," laughed Liz.
But she has got her eye on some of Liz's famous quirky necklaces.
"I’ll steal the zig zag one, every time it breaks they have to get me another one as everybody writes to me about it."
Next year marks the milestone 60th anniversary of Coronation Street, which first broadcast on December 9 1960.
A TV insider revealed to the Mirror that studio bosses are busy planning a number of special shows to mark the occasion.
One of the programmes is set to be an hour-long documentary entitled 'Queens of The Street.'
It will see the return of Suranne Jones, Julie Goodyear, Sarah Lancashire, Amanda Barrie and Michelle Keegan.
The source revealed: "The show launched the careers of some of the biggest stars on TV – especially the likes of Suranne [Jones] and Sarah [. It’ll be a real celebration of all those women we’ve seen in the Rovers Return.”
