ITV Coronation Street’s Paddy Bever to leave role as Max Turner in dramatic storyline

Coronation Street favourite, Paddy Bever, 22, is stepping away from the cobbles to seek new acting horizons.

Having already wrapped up his final scenes viewers can expect to see the star, who portrays the role of Max Turner, depart from screens in early spring. The decision has reportedly been in the pipeline since March, giving showrunners ample time to orchestrate a dramatic exit plotline that coincides with considerable upheaval for the Platt family in the upcoming episodes.

Speaking to The Mirror, the soap star said: “After much reflection and in an incredibly difficult decision, I have chosen to step away from Max, and , to explore new opportunities. I have been surrounded by such kindness and support every step of the way.”

Winning the rising star accolade at the 2022 National Television Awards, Bever expressed profound gratitude to the production team for the opportunity to delve into Max’s intricate narrative on the soap, having assumed the mantle from former actor Harry McDermott in 2021, reports .

“It’s been a great privilege to contribute to the legacy of such a well-loved and iconic show,” Bever stated. “This chapter has been unforgettable and while I look forward to what lies ahead, I will treasure these memories.”

Max, who is the biological son of David Platt’s first wife Kylie, stepped foot on the set back in 2010. Raised initially in foster care, he was eventually reclaimed by Kylie after she had controversially sold him for £20,000 to her sister Becky McDonald (portrayed by Katherine Kelly).

Kylie’s son Max found a father figure in David after she married him, and following Kylie’s tragic death in 2016, David and his new wife Shona (Julia Goulding) have been raising the boy. Max, who struggles with ADHD and was once expelled from school, fell prey to a far-right group and ended up in a youth detention centre.

However, he has since made a positive turnaround and is currently dating Lauren Bolton.

Max’s departure from the show is set to revolve around a catastrophic blaze at No. 8, the Platt family home since 1991, which will be engulfed in flames shortly after family matriarch Gail bids farewell to the street for a new life in France with her spouse Jesse (John Thomson).

Paddy’s exit is part of a wave of cast changes, with some actors choosing to leave and others being written out. Nevertheless, show executives are downplaying any talk of crisis, citing the natural “ebb and flow” of Weatherfield’s residents.

Long-standing cast members like Sue Cleaver, who’s been on the show for 25 years, and Shelley King, with an 11-year tenure, had informed the producers well in advance, allowing storylines to be crafted for their exits.

Paddy himself gave a heads-up to the bosses about his decision to depart at the end of his current contract 10 months ago. An insider shared: “He finished filming at the end of 2024 and will exit as part of a huge upcoming storyline for the Platt family. Everyone at loves Paddy and we wish him every success for the future.”

“This is not a surprise or a shock and is all part of the ebb and flow of characters from the show. We have many new characters joining in the coming weeks and months – and also some returning characters.”

Charlotte Jordan, who plays Daisy Midgeley, and Sue Devaney, known as Debbie Webster on-screen, are set to remain until 2026 despite the cast shake-up.

Colson Smith, portraying Craig Tinker, will be departing after his contract was not renewed, alongside Luca Toolan’s character Mason Radcliffe, who met an untimely end earlier this month.

New executive producer Kate Brooks, who took the helm in November following a six-year stint at , has hinted at a year of upheaval for 2025, commenting: “There are a few exits this year, and some unexpected ones that will send shockwaves.”

continues to reign as the UK’s most-watched soap, with an average of 4.4million viewers tuning in per episode throughout 2024.