Alex Bain could be about to leave Coronation Street.
The actor, 22, has played Simon Barlow since 2008 and has been involved in numerous hard-hitting storylines but took to social media on Monday to share a behind-the-scenes snap.
In the new picture, the soap star can be seen posing in front of his dressing room where he claimed he was ‘glad’ to have some days on set left.
He captioned the post: ‘Well my day is done! Nice and short day today! I’m gonna miss this little space some dearly when I go!
‘So glad I’ve got some shooting days left! So thankful!
Alex Bain could be about the leave Coronation Street, more than 16 years after he was cast as Simon Barlow
In the new picture, the soap star can be seen posing in front of his dressing room where he claimed he was ‘glad’ to have some days on set left
Simon Barlow is the son of Street legend Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) – who exited the serial towards the end of last year after almost 25 years – and his late wife Lucy.
He was born on the show in 2003, but the character emigrated to Australia with his mum and returned as a five-year-old when she passed away following a battle with cancer.
During his first decade on the cobbles, Simon found a surrogate mother in Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), was trapped in a fire amid the 2010 tram crash, and was bullied mercilessly by Faye Windass (Ellie Leach) for a period of time.
In 2015, he was at the centre of a storyline that saw him become physically abusive towards Leanne and in later years supported his cousin Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) through her brief teenage pregnancy that ended in a termination.
In more recent years, Simon found himself groomed into a drug dealing ran by Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor).
News of Alex’s supposed exit was first reported towards the end of 2023.
At the time, Alex was said to be ‘very excited’ to move on from the ITV soap opera.
A source told The Sun: ‘Alex is sad to be leaving Coronation Street because it really is like a family — but he realises that the time is right to move on.
‘He’s very excited about the future and other opportunities.
Alex was just six years old when he landed the part of Simon on Coronation Street (pictured in 2010)
Simon is the son of Street legend Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne, pictured) and his late wife Lucy Barlow
The character is part of the Barlow family, and his on-screen grandmother was the iconic character Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride, centre), whilst his aunt is classic soap baddie Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford)
He found a surrogate mother in Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson, pictured) after she had a relationship with Peter in the late 2000s
In more recent years, Simon has become involved with drug lord Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor, pictured in 2021)
Alex won the British Soap Award for Best Young Actor in 2011 and scooped up another gong in 2014 at the Inside Soap Awards.
In real life, the actor became a dad at the age of 17, when his then-girlfriend Levi Selby gave birth to their daughter Lydia-Rose at 16 years old.
At the time, a source said: ‘They were over the moon at the birth of their baby girl and were really happy together. But they’ve been through a lot together and they’re both still so young.’
Their relationship ended the following May, and the soap star met dancer Mollie Lockwood, 22, in 2019.
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