Coronation Street Star Channique Sterling-Brown Breaks Silence on ‘Bittersweet’ Exit
Channique Confirms Her Exit
Coronation Street favourite Channique Sterling-Brown, 28, has officially addressed her upcoming departure from the ITV soap, describing it as a “bittersweet” goodbye. The actress, who joined the show in 2022 as ambitious solicitor Dee-Dee Bailey, is set to film her final scenes soon, with her exit airing later this year.
After an intense few years packed with emotional and high-stakes storylines, Channique revealed she’s ready to explore new creative opportunities outside of Weatherfield.
A Heartfelt Farewell to the Cobbles
Taking to Instagram, Channique shared her gratitude and reflections on her Coronation Street journey.
“After three whirlwind years of Dee-Dee Bailey, I’ve decided to say farewell to the cobbles,” she wrote. “Bittersweet to be saying goodbye, but I am so excited for pastures new and enjoying the end of playing Princess Diana and her many expressions.”
The post featured a series of expressive screenshots of Dee-Dee’s most memorable moments, highlighting the character’s fiery spirit and emotional depth.
Messages of love and support quickly poured in from co-stars and industry friends. Samia Longchambon responded with heart emojis, while Emmerdale’s Michelle Hardwick and Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies wished her luck. Kimberly Hart-Simpson commented, “Your future is so, so bright.”
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Dee-Dee’s Turbulent Time on the Street
Since arriving on the cobbles, Dee-Dee has faced heartbreak and danger in equal measure. Her relationship with abusive fiancé Joel Deering (Calum Lill) ended in tragedy after his crimes against Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) were exposed.
In the aftermath, Dee-Dee discovered she was pregnant with Joel’s child but struggled to bond with her daughter, eventually deciding that her brother James would adopt baby Laila. The siblings now co-parent the child in an arrangement that has tested and strengthened their family ties.
A New Romance — or a New Threat?
Just as Dee-Dee began to heal, a new man entered her life: Ollie (Raphael Akuwudike). At first charming, Ollie’s behaviour has grown increasingly suspicious, especially after his odd conversation with Toyah Habeeb (Georgia Taylor) about her unusual name.
Speaking recently, Channique hinted that this budding romance might not be straightforward:
“Dee-Dee is very apprehensive about anything new. Her hackles went up at his behaviour. She’s hypervigilant, but we’ll see how it turns out. I don’t think he’s all that bad!”
Fans will have to wait and see whether Ollie’s true intentions are as innocent as they seem.
A Wave of Exits from Weatherfield
Channique joins a growing list of departures from Coronation Street this year. Long-time icons Helen Worth (Gail Platt) and Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw) have already bowed out after decades on the show, while Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Billy Mayhew, is also expected to leave soon.
The shake-up marks a new era for the soap — and perhaps new opportunities for stars like Channique to shine beyond Weatherfield.