Coronation Street favourite Channique Sterling-Brown, 28, has broken her silence after the news that she is leaving her role as Dee-Dee Bailey in the ITV soap.

Her exit comes after three drama-filled years on the cobbles for Dee-Dee.

Metro understands that Channique has decided to take the opportunity to pursue new projects, with her departure expected in the coming months.

She’s set to record her final scenes imminently, which will air towards the end of the year.

The decision comes following an incredibly hectic stint for the star, which saw Dee-Dee projected into a number of high-stakes storylines, mostly based around her relationship with vile abuser Joel Deering (Calum Lill).

Channique speaks out on social media

After the news of her forthcoming departure hit the headlines, Channique took to Instagram to reflect on her time in the show.

‘After three whirlwind years of Dee-Dee Bailey, I’ve decided to say farewell to the cobbles,’ she wrote.

‘Bittersweet to be saying goodbye, but I am so excited for pastures new and enjoying the end of playing Princess Diana and her many expressions.’

She then, of course, added a series of episodic screenshots displaying an ever-changing reactionary face from Dee-Dee.

Co-star Samia Longchambon shared a flurry of love heart emojis, while Emmerdale actress Michelle Hardwick shared the same sentiment.

Kimberly Hart-Simpson wrote: ‘You’re future is so so bright’, and Doctor Who show-runner Russell T Davies added: ‘Ah, good luck! Xx.’

One fan questioned whether she could become the next companion in the BBC sci-fi hit!

Could Ollie lead to Dee-Dee’s exit?

Poor Dee-Dee hasn’t had much luck with men.

Her fiancé Joel was grooming vulnerable teenager Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton), later impregnating and assaulting her.

Fearing for her life, Lauren disappeared into thin air.

The truth came out, with Lauren smashing him around the head with a rock and leaving his body in a river.

After his death, Dee-Dee discovered she was expecting his child, but felt unable to bond with the infant and decided to let her brother James (Jason Callender) adopt baby Laila.

After an uphill battle with her feelings, the siblings are now co-parenting her.

There could be a happier start on the horizon though – with newcomer Ollie (Raphael Akuwudike).

The only problem is, he’s already began to display odd behaviours, asking some interesting questions to Toyah Habeeb (Georgia Taylor).

Intrigued by her name, he asked her about how it came about. She explained that mum Janice (Vicky Entwistle) was a fan of 80s punk princess Toyah Wilcox.

Why is he so interested in Toyah?

‘I think Dee-Dee is very apprehensive entering into anything new, and her heckles went up at his behaviour. I think she’s very hypervigilant but we’ll see how it turns out. I don’t think he’s all that bad!’ Channique told Metro of the relationship when we caught up with her at the Cure Usher ball.

She continued: ‘I think there’s going to be some really exciting stuff for Dee-Dee on the horizon, which I’m really excited for people to see and find out about. You’ll have to keep watching to see it!’

The cast turnover continues

There’s been quite a few familiar faces disappear from Weatherfield over the last year.

So far we’ve bid farewell to long-serving actors Shelley King, Paddy Bever, Sally Ann Matthews, Charlotte Jordan, Colson Smith and Adam Hussain.

Relative newbies Jack Carroll, Farrell Hegarty and Joe Layton also departed.

There was also Helen Worth and Sue Cleaver, who played Gail Platt and Eileen Grimshaw for a combined 75 years, who decided to head off for pastures new.

In coming months, Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Billy Mayhew, is also expected to go.