Craig Gazey: 'Graeme can't change'

Coronation Street actor Craig Gazey has said that he doesn't want his comedy character Graeme Proctor to change.

Gazey is leaving the soap after four years this summer, but has admitted that he cannot think of returning yet because it would result in a "different direction" for his character.

Gazey told Inside Soap:"I'm not being killed off, but returning isn't something I'm thinking about just yet, even though I'd love to at some point.

"If I did come back Graeme would be going in a different direction - so in some ways I feel I want to leave him here."

Gazey's co-star Michelle Keegan recently said that she was "really going to miss Graeme when he leaves". According to Gazey, he has had many people contacting him with similar sentiments.

"I still get people finding out on Twitter that I'm leaving and they can't quite believe it," the 29-year-old said.

"Everyone has been really sweet and said they don't want me to go. Within half an hour of the announcement I was trending on Twitter!

"Lovely people like Phillip Schofield have said they hope Graeme comes back."