Coronation Street star Charlie De Melo 'quits the cobbles'

Charlie De Melo has reportedly quit 'Coronation Street'.

The actor - who has played lawyer Imran Habeeb on the cobble since 2017 - is said to have decided to leave the ITV soap after five years.

An insider told The Sun newspaper: "Charlie’s loved his time on the soap but the time is right to try new things.

“He’s hugely talented and very ambitious and wants to see what else is out there.

“He will always cherish his time in Weatherfield but for now it’s goodbye.”

It's said he will shoot his final scenes over the coming months, with his exit set to play out on screen over the summer.

Sources have also suggested his character will get a spectacular final storyline.

In better news for soap fans, Sam Robertson has agreed to sign on for another year as Adam Barlow despite previously considering leaving 'Corrie'.

A source said: “Sam is a huge talent and bosses are thrilled he’s signed a new contract.

“He’s got some explosive storylines coming up with Adam facing losing everything because of his deranged ex Lydia.”

The soap is set to switch to a new hour-long format on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays as it broadcasts from 8pm to 9pm from March 7th.

Producer Iain MacLeod recently said: "It's an exciting time for the show and these stories will propel us into the hour-long era with a bang and all the characteristic drama, humour, twists and intrigue that 'Corrie' viewers have come to expect.

"We've got high-octane action with tragic heroine Abi, leading to life and death dilemmas. We've got riotous romantic intrigue for Daniel, with deliciously dastardly Daisy pulling out all the stops to keep her man.

"We've got the uber-complex Gary, who has finally turned his life around and is atoning for his sins with Kelly, only to find himself facing a final reckoning with the ghosts from his past.

"And we've got heart-stopping, high-stakes drama for Sarah, featuring a knife-edge showdown between Adam and his tormentor Lydia, which will leave you wondering which one's the bad guy. All of this in one big serving per night. What's not to love?"