Callard: 'Corrie schedule is exhausting'

Beverley Callard has admitted that working on Coronation Street can be "exhausting".

The actress - who will film her final scenes as Rovers Return landlady Liz McDonald this week - told The Mirror that she could not work on the show when suffering with depression two years ago.

"It's the best job in the world, but the schedule can be tiring," Callard said. "It's exhausting for anybody working 12 hours a day, every single day. But when I was poorly, two years ago, I found it relentless.

"Thankfully, the producers were very kind to me and gave me time off to get myself together."

She continued: "I'm glad I got myself back on track before returning to the show because you really need to be fighting fit to do a show like Coronation Street."

However, the 53-year-old confessed that she would never rule out a return to the ITV1 soap.

"I'll never say never to playing Liz again, I think it's going to be a shock that she leaves the Rovers because it's in her blood," she said. "And I can't rule out ever playing Liz again as she's in mine.

"She's a fantastic character for any actress to play but I'm ready for some much-needed time off. I'll always be loyal to the show because I love it though."