Coronation Street star Alex Bain has confirmed that he’s filming new scenes for the show ahead of his imminent exit.
The actor, best known for his portrayal as Simon Barlow since 2008, will be bowing out of the cobbles in the next few months.
Throughout his time on the show he’s been part of some high profile stories – including being trapped in a burning flat whilst his dad Peter (Chris Gascoyne) lay asleep on the sofa, physically abusing his adoptive mum Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and then being groomed into drug dealing by Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor).
More recently he’s hit the bottle, and in worrying scenes, crashed his car whilst over the limit which endangered his little ‘brother’ Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan).
Taking to Instagram yesterday (18th March), Alex shared a picture to his story of the show’s 7.7 acre production site in Trafford, Greater Manchester.
![FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Thursday 24th December 2020 Coronation Street - Ep 1021718 Friday 8th January 2021 As Simon Barlow [ALEX BAIN] goes to get changed for his date with Kelly he?s horrified to find Leanne Tilsley [JANE DANSON] passed out on the sofa next to a bottle of sleeping pills and calls an ambulance. Picture contact David.crook@itv.com This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PRI_177517352-643c.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=540%2C303)
Corrie has been based on the other side of Salford Quays for the last decade, having moved there from the former Granada Studios.
Alongside the picture, which shows the large metallic logo on the side of the building, he captioned it ‘Guess who’s back home?’
Whether this means he’s now completed filming and is returning back for a brief stint, or whether he’s just going into the studios to clear his desk remains to be seen.
It’s expected that his departure will play out over the Spring, as Simon and Leanne become entwined in ‘The Institute’, a dangerous cult that is masking itself as a self-help group at the Chariot Square Hotel.
He first attended the seminars in last week’s episodes and was driven there by his mum in the wake of his drink driving ban.
The two were instantly charmed by the lecturer Rowan (Emrhys Cooper), who took great pride in the flattering comments they both gave him.
This isn’t the first time the ITV show has dealt with a cult storyline – in 1998, Zoe Tattersall (Joanne Froggatt) was introduced to the Etheric Foundation, a group of people that sold crystals and worshipped their leader Nirab (a fun anagram on then incumbent producer Brian Park).
