Dramatic exit planned for Coronation St's Rachel

Dramatic exit planned for Coronation St's Rachel (Image credit: ITV)

Rachel Leskovac is leaving her role as Coronation Street hairdresser Natasha Blakeman. Show bosses said the crimper will exit the cobbles later this year as the culmination of a dramatic storyline, leaving a 'trail of devastation' in her wake. Since joining the show in 2008, Natasha has had an affair with evil Tony Gordon (Gray O'Brien) and is now dating Nick Tilsley (Ben Price). A Coronation Street spokesman said: "ITV can confirm that Rachel Leskovac will leave Coronation Street later this year. "Her departure will be the culmination of a dramatic storyline which will be seen on screen this summer and into autumn." Producer Phil Collinson added: "Rachel is a really talented actress who has been an asset to the show. "Her character will be involved in an exciting and dramatic storyline which will be an integral part of the build up to the 5Oth anniversary. "She will leave behind a trail of devastation - a real testament to the impact Rachel as Natasha has had on many lives in our community. We wish her much success for the future." Screen couple Steven Arnold (Ashley Peacock) and Julia Haworth (Claire Peacock) are also being written out under the new producer. Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk’s weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.