Coronation Street star Alex Bain bids goodbye to soap after 16 years

By Milly Veitch For Mailonline

15:58 05 Jun 2024, updated 16:46 05 Jun 2024

Alex Bain has shared a touching message to his fans as he said farewell to Coronation Street after 16 years. 

The actor, 22, has played the role of Simon Barlow on the ITV soap since 2008, and twice scooped the award for Best Young Actor at the Inside Soap Awards.

His final scenes aired on Monday, as he left the cobbles to go join his father Peter (Chris Gascoyne) abroad, after landing a job working beside him.

Simon shared an emotional goodbye with his mum Leanne Battersby, before hopping into the back of a taxi to head to the airport.

On Tuesday, Alex took to Coronation Street’s official Instagram account to share a behind-the-scenes snippet from his last episode, and a video message to his fans.

Filming himself outside the iconic Rovers Return pub, he said: ‘I just want to say a quick message from me and my character Simon to all the fans of Coronation Street.

‘I just wanted to say that it’s been a fantastic experience. I’ve loved being here, and I’ve loved being a part of the nation’s favourite Street.

‘And I just wanted to say a big old thank you to everybody who supported me over the years, all the people I’ve worked with, and it’s been an honour and I will always cherish my time here on Coronation Street. Take care everyone.’

The video was flooded by messages from his fellow castmates, who wished him luck in the future.

His onscreen mum, Jane Danson, commented: ‘End of an era. Good luck Al …. Such special times.’

While Kate Ford, who plays Simon’s aunt Tracy Barlow, shared a simple red heart emoji and Adam Hussain (Aadi Alahan) said: ‘All the best mate!’

Elle Mulvaney, who stars as Simon’s cousin Amy Barlow penned:  ‘All the best’ while Jacob Hay actor Jack James Ryan wrote: ‘My brother always, love you x’.

Many devoted Corrie fans also took to the comments to praise Alex and gush that they would miss seeing Simon in Weatherfield, voicing the hope that he could return.

They wrote: ‘To be in a show like this is for a year is an achievement in itself. To stay in for over 16 years it’s just point-blank impressive. Good luck on your future endeavours mate.’

‘I remember when he went on as a little boy. Gosh he’s grown ❤️;  Good Luck @alexbainofficial I can’t wait to see what you get up to’.

‘All the best for the future, I’m sure you’ll do well in the future. I’m glad they’ve not killed you off, so who knows you could return some years down the line. Onwards and upwards.’

‘Good luck with your future endeavours, you will be missed; I Love Simon it’s sad to say goodbye’.

‘Good luck with what ever you do next you played a great character as Simon he will be missed; Love that Simon gets a happy ending.’

‘So sad gosh I’m in tears, I saw this coming, I’ve loved watching you as a small kid when you’ve arrived in 2003 since day 1 to the cobbles & now turned into a lovely young boy, I’ll miss Simon, all the best hope you come back one day.

Alex’s departure was first announced in December 2023, with it being reported that he was ‘very excited’ to move on from the ITV soap opera. 

A source told The Sun last year: ‘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 has been involved in a number of controversial storylines while on the cobbles, including physical abusing his mother Leanne and dealing drugs.

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.

Alex then revealed in December 2022 that he had popped the question to Mollie two months earlier.

Speaking to OK! magazine, Alex gushed: ‘I can’t spend my life with anyone else.’

Mollie explained why the couple kept the news secret for so long, saying: ‘We wanted to enjoy that special time together, just the two of us, for a while.’ 

Alex spoke of his nerves, saying: ‘I thought, ‘If I don’t do it now, I’ll keep getting more and more nervous!’ I was pretty certain she’d say yes, but I was still bricking it.’

However, early 2023 it was reported that Alex had sadly split from his aspiring actress fiancée Mollie.

The pair were said to have called it quits six months after getting engaged, and Alex wiped all trace of Mollie from his Instagram account at the time.

An insider told The Sun: ‘They’re gutted the relationship didn’t work out, but they’re both so young it’s hard to make such a big commitment early on in their lives

‘Their mates have rallied around to support them and keep them busy. Simon is focused on the soap and getting stuck into storylines and his role.’