Coronation Street screenwriter Jonathan Harvey has bowed out from the show after 20 years in the role.
The writer made his first contribution to the ITV soap back in 2004, going on to pen 331 scripts across his two-decade career, though he shared via X/Twitter that Wednesday’s (October 2) episode was his final contribution for the time being.
“My last episode of Corrie is on tonight,” began Harvey, who has also written Beautiful Thing. “Paul’s funeral. Jan McVerry’s written the first half and me the second. Sure it’ll all be plain sailing and everyone’ll get on and it’ll all be lovely.”
Dave Benett//Getty Images
Despite the post, Harvey did reveal in a subsequent comment that he would be open to returning, writing: “I actually left five months ago but it’s shot so far in advance it’s taken til now to air my last one! Needed a break after twenty years. Hopefully I’ll be back!”
The comment section was filled with many messages from fans, with one user sharing their thoughts as they wrote: “Oh wow didn’t know you were leaving. Thanks for all the fabulous Carla writing over the years.”
“Hope it won’t be your final final ep – perhaps the wheel will turn again at some point – but thank you for bringing so so many moments of joy to a show that is in the psyche of the nation… (maybe not currently so much) – looking forward to catching up with @HYCAMusicalUK x” added a second fan.
ITV
“It was a great episode as usual. And I have very fond memories of you and Jan McVerry coming to my classroom in South Wales 14 years ago! Looking forward to seeing what you do next (and hopefully a return to Corrie one day),” wrote another supportive fan.
Harvey’s final episode on the soap was a dramatic one, with Billy Mayhew making a pass at his former partner Todd Grimshaw after learning that his late husband, Paul Foreman, had already passed away before he could say his final words.
