Coronation Street actress Beverley Callard is leaving the cobbles after three decades playing Liz McDonald. The actress, 62, has explained why she is leaving the soap, what’s next and how she hopes to defeat ageism in the acting industry.
The Leeds-born actress spoke exclusively to OK! Magazine on her exit decision.
She explained that when she told the Corrie bosses she wanted to leave a month ago, she was in a state of shock.
Beverley said she was “in shock” and “felt totally numb”, adding that she had had “so many sleepless nights”.
As for how her character Liz will leave the soap, she said it will be sometime next year, and as part of an explosive storyline.
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“Although I’ve had to leave the safety net of being in Coronation Street to do this, I’m hoping that ageist bosses, of which there are many, take note of how successful this show is and it starts the ball rolling on helping other women my age, get the roles they still deserve.”
She started her stint on Corrie back in 1989 and her character Liz has become beloved by fans of the ITV soap for her feisty and tenacious character.
Liz has been married and divorced twice, had an up and down relationship with her son Steve McDonald and survived a harrowing hit and run accident last Christmas.
MD of Continuing Drama and Head of ITV in the North John Whiston said of Beverley’s departure: “With the character of Liz, Beverley Callard has gifted to Coronation Street 30 years of brilliant drama, comedy and everything in between.
