Coronation Street villain shares love with co-star ahead of exit

loggerheads in Coronation Street, but there couldn’t be more love between the actors who play them.

Calum has shared his appreciation for co-star Channique ahead of his upcoming exit from the ITV soap.

On-screen, the pair were engaged before Dee-Dee found out about Joel’s crimes, and is now determined to help DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) bring him down for grooming and abusing young girls including local Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton).

The storyline is set to reach its climax in the coming weeks, with Calum confirmed to be leaving his role as the evil Joel.

As he prepares to leave the cobbles, Calum took to Instagram to share a tribute to his ‘best mate’ Channique.

Posting a series of pictures of the two of them, he wrote: ‘Appreciation post for Channique Sterling-Brown. Thank you for being my best mate at work and taking me under your wing since day one of me joining the show. I don’t know any actor who’s been as busy as you have for as long as you have and you still always smash it.

‘Thanks for always finding the time to take the mick out of me and for sharing your desserts as I always forget to grab one. You’re amazing. Keep smashing it Queen.’

Channique joked: ‘Someones getting soft in their old age. Thanks for being my work bestie always.’

Sydney Martin, who plays Betsy Swain, also commented: ‘Two massive talents.’

At present, Joel currently thinks he has got away with his crimes, after DS Swain was unable to pin enough on him to get a charge to stick.

However, there was a breakthrough earlier this week when Dee-Dee visited Joel’s old firm Walcotts, who specialise in helping vulnerable young people.

While there, a receptionist secretly handed her Joel’s old work phone, which DS Swain is now digging into – will she find something that could finally bring him to justice?