Coronation Street legend ‘too sad’ to watch show following low-key exit after 10 years

Former Coronation Street star Shelley King has admitted she is too ‘sad’ to watch the soap following her recent exit as Yasmeen Metcalfe after a decade.

Earlier this month, Yasmeen packed up and left Weatherfield for a new job in London after selling off her share in Speed Daal to Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson).

The character’s low-key departure saw her sharee an emotional farewell with granddaughter Alya Nazir (Sair Khan) before driving off in her car.

Shelley has now reflected on her feelings surrounding her exit during an appearance on the Conversation Street podcast.

She said: ‘I watched last week’s and the week before just to see how [Yasmeen] left.

‘To be honest, it made me very sad. I had a quick text and WhatsApp with Sair [Khan, who plays Alya Nazir], it was her birthday in February, sending pictures of her kids and everything.

‘It makes me sometimes quite sad, I have to admit.’

Shelley also hinted she would like Yasmeen to return at some point in the future.

She said: ‘Yasmeen hasn’t left the Street. I don’t know, she might have, she might never come back again.

‘But Yasmeen has simply gone to London. I’m also ambassador to a charity, modern slavery charity, so she’s just gone off to do something. That street, that community, Weatherfield has so many memories and nightmares for her.

‘Now she’s got nobody in her life, she’s sort of alone in this house. With all the memories of it nearly being burnt down, being chucked off a roof, being knifed in the kitchen.’

Shelley also admitted she didn’t share a goodbye with ITV’s executive producer for continuing drama Iain MacLeod.

She said: ‘I talked to the producer, who’s now executive producer, Iain MacLeod. I think it’s an interesting time.

‘We didn’t say goodbye to each other, we had no promises of return.

‘But I suppose it’s a way of not breaking one’s heart. I’ve got a few ties. I love the people in the street, I love everyone.’

Following her low-key final scenes, many fans called the soap out, saying Yasmeen had deserved a better exit after a decade on the cobbles.

During her decade on the Street, Yasmeen’s most memorable storyline saw her face physically and physiologically abused by her twisted husband Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholomew).

The character later perished as part of the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations in 2020.