King 'won't take Corrie job for granted'

Coronation Street star Alison King has admitted that the soap's recent run of cast changes reminded her not to take her job for granted.

The Weatherfield serial's new producer Phil Collinson has announced the departures of a number of characters over the past few weeks, including Claire and Ashley Peacock (Julia Haworth and Steven Arnold), Natasha Blakeman (Rachel Leskovac) and King's screen love interest Trevor Dean (Steve Jackson).

Speaking in an interview with DS, King confessed that she felt "gutted" when she was first told about the shake-up.

She commented: "For a week or so, everyone was really down in the green room. But that's the way it is every few years. It gives you a rain-check and reminds you that your contract's only as long as your contract and you can't take any longer than that for granted, just like they can't.

"We have the opportunity to go when we want, so it's only right that they're able to change the cast when they feel the need to. It's not a reflection on anyone's work, it's all about the direction of a show. We're just bloody lucky to be in this job for five years, let alone ten!"

King's character Carla Connor will return to the forefront of the programme next week as she is held captive by ex-husband Tony Gordon in a dramatic siege storyline.

> Click here to read our interview with Alison King
> Click here to read more from Alison King in Soap Scoop