Coronation Street legend breaks silence on shock exit from soap with emotional farewell message

CORONATION Street legend Chris Gascoyne has broken his silence after leaving fans emotional after leaving the cobbles for good.

The actor, who played Peter Barlow, walked away from the ITV soap in an emotional final episode which centred purely on his exit.

Chris has appeared on the show on and off for over 20 years but has seemingly said goodbye for good - although the door has been left open for a potential return.

In a clip recorded on his penultimate day on set, Chris reflected on his time on the soap in a "heartwarming goodbye message".

Speaking from backstage, the actor said: "Hi guys, this is my little leaving message to you.

"I want to say, first and foremost, thanks for watching and thanks for all the people and the fans that have really supported me and cheered me up over the years.

"I want to say thanks to the girls, all the lovely girls that support me and Ali [King, his on-screen wife Carla]."

Chris went onto say he had hung up his character's clothes for the final time as the video panned to show off his racks of clothing in his dressing room.

The star continued: "So I've just packed the dressing room up and it's my last scene tomorrow, and then I'm off!"

He added: "So, it was a bit odd.

"I hung Peter's coat up, the one with the black collar and the green jacket for the taxi driver.

Confessing it all felt a "bit weird" he added: "I'm looking forward now to having a break and seeing what else comes up, because as an actor, you never know."

Chris cast doubt on his future and acting endeavours as he insisted he had "no control" over that.

To finish up the video, Chris asked himself: "Will I be back?";

In response, he suggested uncertainty as he said: "Well who knows what we are doing tomorrow?

"I don't know if he's finished. Is he finished? We'll see."

Underneath the clip, fans sent an outpouring of love as they were left devastated to see Peter go.

One wrote: "Sorry to see your leaving but wish you good luck in the future."

Another penned: "Good Luck Chris and hope Peter does come back at some point to the street. Will miss you."

A third was left in tears as they wrote: "Gonna miss Peter/ Chris so much, I love his character so much, I cried when his family said goodbye to him, when it got to Ken I cried even more."

Before someone else said: "Crying my eyes out after that episode bye peter/chris u were fabulous!"

Chris headed off on a Manchester tram to fly to Bilbao to join his friends at sea manning a ship after confessing that he was unhappy with his life in Weatherfield.

Wife Carla 'set him free' by encouraging him to go in order to be happy rather than remain with her and develop stronger feelings of sadness and despair after a tough year.