Corrie's Dev 'lined up for the chop'

Coronation Street producers are planning to axe troubled actor Jimmi Harkishin from the soap, the Daily Star claims today.

Harkishin, who plays shop owner Dev Allahan, has been given "time off" from filming amid allegations surrounding his private life.

"He will be taking a break from the show while he seeks help to deal with these issues," said a Corrie spokeswoman at the time. "This is with the full support of the Company, Coronation Street and his colleagues."

Now the tabloid reports that producers are beginning to "strip the character's importance" in the show so that he could easily be disposed of in the future.

Under the plans, Dev's stake in taxi firm StreetCars will be sold to business partner Steve McDonald and screen wife Sunita will take over Dev's seven-strong chain of corner shops.

"At the moment everyone is fully expecting Jimmi to return once he is better," said a source. "But there is no guarantee they will want to keep him here after that. Nobody is bigger than the Street."