Keegan: 'Tina needs a break from men'

Michelle Keegan has admitted that she would like Coronation Street's Tina McIntyre to have a break from dating.

It was recently announced that Craig Gazey, who plays Keegan's on-screen boyfriend Graeme Proctor, is leaving the ITV soap. Speaking at the National Television Awards, the actress claimed that the Rovers Return barmaid needs to focus on herself and her work for a while.

"I think Tina needs to be on her own for a while - she just goes from one boyfriend to the next, doesn't she?" Holy Soap quotes her as saying. "She needs a break from boys, and to work at the pub with Steve and Becky for a bit."

Speaking about Gazey's exit, Keegan added: "I thought they were a really good match, so it's really upsetting, I'm going to miss him. But I think when someone wants to leave, obviously they've thought long and hard about it and obviously feel like they've made the right decision, so you just don't get involved."

Xin - the Manchester serial's first Chinese resident - will reportedly move in with Tina and Graeme when she arrives on the Street next month.