Coronation Street viewers were left heartbroken on Friday evening as one of their favourite soap couples officially ended their marriage (Image: ITV)

Coronation Street viewers were left heartbroken on Friday evening as one of their favourite soap couples officially ended their marriage.

In the latest episode, Ryan Connor delivered a formal letter to Carla Connor at the factory, her reaction revealing the gravity of its contents.

Later in the show, a concerned Ryan confided in DS Lisa Swain about Carla’s unusual behaviour and decided to investigate further, leading to a sorrowful revelation.

Ryan discovered the letter was actually Carla’s divorce decree absolute from Peter Barlow. Carla was initially angry that Ryan had invaded her privacy by reading her personal mail. However, she later confessed that receiving official confirmation of her divorce had come as a significant shock.

Coronation Street viewers were left heartbroken on Friday evening as one of their favourite soap couples officially ended their marriage (Image: ITV)

Fans took to Twitter, now X, to express their sadness, with one user writing: “Carla and Peter are divorced. #Corrie” accompanied by crying emojis. Another posted: “Carla and Peter are divorced #Corrie”, while another admitted: “I didn’t even know that Carla and Peter were getting divorced #Corrie”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

While another soap fan added: “Peter and Carla’s divorce has came through. #Corrie #CoronationStreet @itvcorrie” alongside a heart emoji.

It comes as soap fans were left in tears over Christmas when Peter left Weatherfield and wife Carla to go work on a boat with actor Chris Gascoyne bowing out the cobbles after 23 years.

Meanwhile, next week on Coronation Street will see sparks fly between Carla and DS Swain as the two share a tender moment. Carla is left feeling confused after the moment but has Lisa felt it too and what does it mean for the two?

It comes as soap fans were left in tears over Christmas when Peter left Weatherfield and wife Carla to go work on a boat with actor Chris Gascoyne bowing out the cobbles after 23 years (Image: ITV)

Talking about the storyline, Carla star Alison King said: “I’m loving working with Vicky [Myers – who plays DS Swain], she’s an absolute trooper and she’s very talented. I’m enjoying seeing their friendship coming through, with this friendship we’re seeing a more vulnerable side in them both, rather than just two very strong women.

“It’s nice to see Carla opening up to another woman, rather than it all being intermingled with men. She’s suddenly got somebody around that really gets her. She has that closeness and banter with Ryan at home but with Lisa she can show that vulnerability that she so often hides. Lisa’s so serious but she quite likes it and she doesn’t really know why, because in that sense they’re polar opposite.”

She added of her character Carla’s confusion: “I think every step of this friendship is taking her by surprise. The closeness between them for Carla comes from concern yet at times she can’t really put her finger on what this is.”