'Coronation Street' heartthrob Rob James-Collier is reportedly set to quit the show when his current contract expires at the end of this year.
According to Digital Spy, the 31-year-old actor, who plays factory boss Liam Connor in the show, is leaving because of "typecast" fears.
A show source reportedly told the News of the World: "Nobody was expecting this and it's bad news because Liam has become hugely popular with fans."
"He won Sexiest Male at the British Soap Awards and they had big things planned for him."
"They wanted the Carla-Liam-Maria thing to really step up in pace, with him finally cheating on his girl with his sister-in-law. It would have given them a brilliant storyline which could have bubbled away until Christmas."
According to the report, a 'Coronation Street' spokesperson late confirmed the actor's planned departure, saying: "We've known for some time that Rob would be leaving at the end of his current contract."
"It's given the writers time to pen a really good exit storyline for his character, Liam."
"Rob will remain filming with us until around October and he will bow out on screen at the end of the year."
