Coronation Street villain quits after seven months and has already landed a new role
Coronation Street star Emrhys Cooper, who plays cult leader Rowan Cunliffe is set to quit the cobbles after seven months on the ITV show but has already landed a new role
Coronation Street star Emrhys Cooper has quit the ITV soap after seven months.
The 39 year old actor, who plays cult leader Rowan Cunliffe, has managed to make a huge impact among viewers as he attempts to groom Leanne Battersby. Fans of the show have witnessed him manipulate and coerce Leanne into divulging her darkest secrets, while secretly recording them, to use it for his own questionable means.
The villain also went as far as to blackmail Nick and Toyah after he realised they had embarked on an illicit affair – and this was to ensure they backed off so he could maintain control over Leanne. He had also set his sights on Amy Barlow in a desperate bid to swipe her of her £40,000 inheritance. But now, according to reports, the character is set to depart Weatherfield.
A source told The Sun: “Emrhys has been a great addition to the street but he does play a dastardly villain and so his story always had a beginning, a middle and an end. Rowan’s going to get even worse over the next few months and the story’s nowhere near it’s ending just yet but he will be saying goodbye to the cobbles. The question is whether he gets his comeuppance or how many more lives he destroys before he leaves?”
This comes after Emrhys spoke of his excitement of starring in the iconic ITV soap and his hopes for Rowan to redeem himself. In a previous interview he said: “So I lived in America for 15 years, and the last few years I’ve been dying to come back, but I was just waiting for the right opportunity, and then I got this audition, and I came back to Manchester, and I’ve just been so happy here. “
He continued: “And I was nervous about joining the show. I’ve just always looked up to it and been a fan, and people couldn’t be nicer from the get go, friendly, open arms, and I worked with Jane and Sue on my first day, and immediately I just felt really at home so and it’s been like that ever since. I’m having a really good time loving Manchester and just being connecting to my roots and, you know, my family. I haven’t actually seen them much over the last 15 years. I’ve seen them, like, once or twice a year, so being closer to home is really cool.”
Speaking of his hopes for Rowan in the future, he added: “I would love a redemption storyline for Rowan, yeah, it’d be fun, yeah, to just have an arc where we see some sort of growth. Whether that’s on the cards, I don’t know, but it would be fun for I’d like to think there’s a little good left in him, and maybe he is brainwashed as well.” And while some may be sad to see him go, the actor has wasted no time in jumping back on the bandwagon as he has already secured himself another acting job.
Emrhys Cooper has quit Coronation Street after seven months on the ITV soap
It’s believed he will play Prince Frederick in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the St Helen’s Theatre Royal, this Christmas. Earlier this month, the actor teased that Leanne is set to endure major consequences in the evolving cult plot. Rowan has been grooming Leanne to become a mentor like himself in his “self improvement” institute, in the hope that she starts to encourage others to become a member.
Speaking about his evil plan, which could land Leanne in serious trouble, he told the Mirror: “There’s more to come. I would love to tell you how long it is gonna go on for… we’ve got a bit of a ride, we’ve got a few twists and turns. He’s orchestrated recruiting Amy. He’s heard she’s vulnerable, she’s lost and she’s got money. She is the perfect victim for the institute and he’s training Leanne to recruit. She is doing a very good job so I would watch out for Leanne.”
Speaking about the harsh consequences, he continued: “I think there are gonna be consequences for her actions for sure. Using her relationship with Amy who trusts Leanne, so there will be some repercussions for that but I can’t tell you what. We’re gonna see a new recruit and we’re gonna witness Leanne’s skills, cos she’s been trained up. So it will be interesting to see how she’s using those learned skills to attract Amy.As long as she coughs up I think he’s gonna be happy, money talks.” Typically, Rowan has set his sights on an even bigger plan. Emrhys said:”I think Rowan’s plan is to get a resource centre and take over the Street, but he’s also moving slow and steady. It’s not an overnight thing.”
