Natalie and Shobna film final Corrie scenes

(Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Coronation Street stars Shobna Gulati and Natalie Gumede have shot their final scenes on the cobbles.

Shobna (Sunita Alahan) is quitting the ITV soap after eight years in the role to focus on writing comedy and it is thought that her character gets killed off when the Rovers Return goes up in flames.

Natalie leaves Coronation Street following her alter-ego Kirsty Soames' domestic violence storyline with Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall).

Shobna tweeted: "The saddest day my dearest friends who bring u the best entertainment and yet a true feeling of freedom love #corrie cast and crew."

Antony Cotton (Sean Tully) replied: "I am far away but I'm thinking of you. You will be missed by us all, on both sides of the camera. Love you x."

Meanwhile, Natalie posted a picture of the cobbles with the message: "Last time outside number 9."

Alan Halsall, who plays her abused former fiance, wrote: "Such a tough day. Saying goodbye to the amazingly talented @NatalieGumede well only at the cobbles. Nearly finished my scene then beers xxx."

Alan's real wife Lucy-Jo Hudson wrote: "Thinking of my man @alanhalsall and his other bird @NatalieGumede today! It's their last day filming together #sad times xxx."

Catherine Tyldesley, who plays Eva Price, added: "I don't want @ShobnaGulati and @NatalieGumede to go. The cobbles are totes emosh today."

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.