End of an era as Coronation Street legend completes filming after 15 years: ‘That’s a wrap!’

Coronation Street star Alex Bain has officially waved goodbye to the cobbles after 15 years.

The 22-year-old actor, best known for his role as Simon Barlow in the ITV soap since 2008, will depart the show in the coming months.

He was embroiled in a huge exit storyline that has seen him and adoptive mum Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) become entwined in a dangerous cult following his brief battle with excessive drinking.

Taking to Instagram to share his final snap of himself on set, he wrote: ‘That’s a wrap for Simon Barlow everyone. Thank you to all at Coronation Street for the best 15 years of my life.’

In a separate snap to Instagram Stories, he added: ‘Might be grey skies but I adore this place so much. Love you all my Corrie family.’

This comes after it was claimed actor Alex, who joined Corrie when he was just seven years old, was told it was time to move.

A source claimed: ‘Alex has been putting on a brave face saying he quit the show but in reality bosses decided it was time for him to move on.

‘It’s been incredibly emotional for Alex and he really doesn’t want to leave at all.’

They added to The Sun: ‘He’s been begging bosses to keep him in mind for the future. He wants to go back already.’

Simon’s downward spiral began at the start of the year, shortly after his dad Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) left the cobbles.

Feeling isolated, Simon turned to drinking alcohol to numb what he was feeling.

As his dependency on booze spiralled, Simon ended up putting himself and Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) in danger when he crashed Leanne’s car.

After Sam passed out and ended up in hospital, Leanne was forced to tell Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) that the collision happened because Simon was under the influence.