Claire King has quit ‘Coronation Street’.
The 54-year-old actress played flirty shop worker Erica Holroyd in the long-running ITV soap, and after almost three years on the programme she has decided to step down from the role to find her next "challenge".
However, bosses have not ruled out the possibility of the blonde beauty reprising her role in the future, but for now she has teased she will be appearing in something else on the small screen "soon".
She said in statement: "It’s been a dream come true to tread those famous cobbles. I was only meant to stay for six weeks initially, so for Erica to be so popular that she stayed for three years and even worked in The Rovers was a real compliment to me as an actress.
"I’ve had such a great time with the cast and crew, so it’s fabulous that they have left the door open for Erica to return in the future. Who knows what adventures she’ll be getting up to away from the Street? She’s certainly not boring.
"As for me, I’m ready for another challenge. I’m not leaving the screens anytime soon, so watch this space."
Claire – who has previously starred in a number of shows including rival soap ‘Emmerdale’ and prison sitcom ‘Bad Girls’ – recently revealed she thought her time was up as she claimed she heard through the grapevine that new producer Kate Oates was reportedly planning to kill off a number of the key characters when she took over production reins last month.
She said: "I don’t know if I will be safe [when Kate takes over]. They always like to put their own stamp on things.
"I have been around the block a few times so I know how it works. It will be fine if she feels the character does not work. We are all self-employed and you adapt and change when things happen."
Claire’s colourful alter ego certainly has enough plot line to making a comeback as she was on the verge of having an affair with mechanic Kevin Webster (played Michael Le Vell), though her final moments on ‘Coronation Street’ are being kept under wraps.
Claire King quits Coronation Street
