‘She deserved better!’ Coronation Street fans hit out at star’s exit after a decade

Coronation Street viewers have slammed Yasmeen Metcalfe’s exit story, following actress Shelley King’s exit after 10 years.

Yasmeen, who was the last of the Nazir family – the first ever Muslim family in the history of the ITV soap – to be introduced, first appeared on our screens in July 2014.

Her most memorable storyline began in 2018, when she entered into a relationship with twisted Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholomew), who physically and physiologically tormented her over the following two years.

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

In last week’s episodes, Yasmeen excitedly told granddaughter Alya (Sair Khan) that she had been offered a new job opportunity, working for a charity in London.

Unfortunately, that would mean permanently leaving Weatherfield and selling her shares in Pakistani street food restaurant Speed Daal.

Alya told her Gran to take up the opportunity, and in true soap fashion, she packed her bags and left the cobbles in last night’s instalment.

To her nearest and dearest’s surprise, she’d sold her part in the business to Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and promptly packed her bags, leaving for pastures new.

Leanne’s new venture rattled Alya, who was shocked to hear that her new business partner wanted to take full control of the eatery.

Following her departure, actress Shelley bid farewell in an emotional video posted to Corrie’s social media accounts.

‘Hello everybody, Yasmeen here, or I’m also known as Shelley King, but actually Yasmeen has been my name for the last 10 and a half years in this glorious street’ she began.

‘I’ve been so privileged to be living in number six, I’ve had the most wonderful time.

‘I’m very sad to be leaving, I just felt I’d have to try going back to the stage, maybe try to refresh Yasmeen.’

She continued: ‘We’re very close, Yas and I. So as you probably know, Yas is going to do other things – she will not say goodbye.

‘She will say, as the French do, “à bientôt”, which means “see you soon”.

‘I’d just like to say I’ve also been hugely privileged to have the story about domestic abuse. It was so well written and so well researched, and I’ve had so many letters from you, my audience, all of you saying how much it helped you.

‘That’s the wonder of Coronation Street. And that’s why I’m so proud to have been in it for this long, because there are so many issues that the street can inform, and does so, and treats with great gentleness and purpose.’

Shelley concluded: ‘So, what can I say? Thank you all for watching. Keep watching.

‘And I’ll say again – c’est pas goodbye, adieu it is. Au revoir. Bye bye for now.’

Fans rushed to reply with their support, with one saying: ‘Such an amazing lady!’

‘Good luck… your domestic abuse storyline was well researched / written as you say. But it was your talent to bring it from the written page to life that made it so compelling to watch. Thank you’ said another.

A third praised Shelley’s acting: ‘I’m really going to miss Shelley King. Yasmeen has been at the forefront of so many good storylines over the years and some of her scenes, particularly when depicting Yasmeen’s fragility during the coercive control storyline, are seared into my memory. Powerful stuff’.