Coronation Street star Channique Sterling-Brown has mentioned ‘love’ for her character as she shared a message with fans following her exit news.

The actress confirmed this week that she will be bowing out of the ITV soap after three years in the role of Dee-Dee Bailey.

She arrived in 2022 as the much-talked-about Diana, aka Dee-Dee, the daughter of Aggie and Ed Bailey, who had arrived in 2019 as the first regular Black family on the show.

But she’ll soon be heading for pastures new. Sharing a string of pictures of herself playing Dee-Dee, Channique wrote on Instagram: “After three whirlwind years of Dee-Dee Bailey, I’ve decided to say farewell to the cobbles.

“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.”

The post was quickly flooded with messages from fans who were ‘gutted’ and ‘sad’ to see Channique go. But Channique seemingly hinted a life away from the cobbles could be on the cards.

Speaking back in July, Channique shared her her hopes for her future away from the cobbles, telling My Weekly magazine: “I’d love to see more of the world, I’d love to learn to play a musical instrument and I’d like to live abroad something.

“Even if it’s just for a short while, it would be great to embrace somewhere new. And I’d love to play Lady Macbeth.”

She also admitted it would be “great to play a villain” and to do “something completely different” as she seemingly confirmed her plans to bow out.

“I love Coronation Street; it’s a wonderful place to work and such a pinch-me defining part of my career,” she continued. “It’s changed my life and I’ve learnt so much, but I’m still young and it’s such a big industry. I’d love to try out different characters one day.”

After the response to her departure news, Channique returned to social media on Friday (October 3) and shared a message to her Instagram Story which read: “Thank you fro all the lovely words of support and loving Dee-Dee as much as I do.”

And there’s one part of Channqiue’s exit from the role that has been upsetting fans. After Dee-Dee was seen teaming up with DS Lisa Swain to bring Joel Deering down last year, @agf1052 said: “So….there goes my hopes for a Lisa/Dee-Dee friendship reunion and an Adam/Dee-Dee relationship…”

@Her_EvilQueen also commented: “Can we get some Dee-Dee and Lisa scenes before she goes please. I loved their little friendship that was blooming.”