Melanie Hill has quit her role as Cathy Matthews in Coronation Street.
In an interview with The Mirror, the actress described the decision to step away from the role after seven years as an “emotional one” and said that it was prompted by the pandemic.
The 60-year-old – who is also known for her roles in shows such as Bread, Playing the Field and Waterloo Road – told the tabloid:
“It’s not been an easy thing to decide. My family has been important but the pandemic has made a lot of people think about the future. It has changed a lot of things in my head. You’ve just got to see what’s important to you. I absolutely love everybody but it’s made me think about my family a lot and what the priorities are in my life.”
Melanie’s final scenes have been ‘in the can’ for two weeks already and she revealed that the soap “has been absolutely fantastic” about her going, leaving the door open for a return.
“I won’t say where Cathy goes but I’m a stone’s throw away from Weatherfield. My nephew Alex, played by Liam Bairstow, is there and Peter Gunn, who plays Brian Packham, so the door is open for me to come back – and that’s a great compliment.”
The Mirror notes that Cathy will bid a farewell to the cobbles after her relationship with Brian peters out.
John Whiston, head of ITV in the North, said:
“Cathy has been a fantastic character, whether that’s leaving us in fits of laughter or breaking our hearts as, yet again, Brian doesn’t live up to her romantic expectations. We’re sad Melanie is taking time away – she is such a skilled actress that she can deliver sadness and laughter, drama and comedy often in the same scene. We will all miss her hugely.”
Melanie, who has played the role of Cathy since 2015, added of her final episodes:
“They’ve written some really nice stuff for Peter and I, and my nephew Alex. It’s pretty emotional. The story shows middle-aged people who really do care about each other but it’s not quite working out. I think it’s really realistic.”
The scenes are expected to air next month.
Cathy’s storylines have seen her overcome her compulsive hoarding and come to terms with the fact her husband Alan had had an affair with her sister Nessa (Sadie Shimmin). She was first paired romantically with Roy Cropper (David Neilson), however their relationship ended when he decided that he couldn’t marry her.
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV, STV and UTV
