Beverley Callard: 'I thought Liz would die'

Beverley Callard has admitted that she expected Liz McDonald to be killed off when she quit Coronation Street.

The actress announced that she was leaving her role as the Rovers Return landlady last October. Callard previously confessed that she was "so relieved" to learn that Liz would survive the 50th anniversary tram crash.

"When I handed in my notice last summer, I thought they'd probably kill me off in the tram crash," she told TV Times. "They've been very good to me; they wanted to leave the door open and wanted Liz to come back at some point and I would never say never, that's for sure."

Asked what her plans for the future are, Callard said: "I couldn't stop being an actress. But what I don't want to do is play Liz under another name. If anything is like Liz, then I'd rather go back and play Liz."

However, the 54-year-old, who filmed her exit last month, said that she does not keep any of her character's infamous outfits.

"No, most days, I went to work and wished I was playing Emily Bishop, because at least she's warm and covered up," she quipped. "Although [my husband] Jon would sometimes see the outfits and say, 'Can you come home in that? Can you wear that in the bedroom?' I don't, I hasten to add!"

> Beverley Callard 'put Corrie before health'