'Coronation Street' character to get brain tumour?

Coronation Street character Chris Gray will reportedly leave the Street after developing a brain tumour.

The builder is played by Will Thorp, whose exit from the ITV1 soap was reported last month.

Chris will be told it's too late for surgery and dump girlfriend Maria Connor (Samia Smith) to get back with Cheryl (Holly Quin-Ankrah), the News of the World reports.

He tells his girlfriend: "I'm sorry Maria but I'm dying. I have to handle this my way. I can't do that whilst we're together."

Cheryl decides to nurse Chris when he sobs: "Why me? I'm too young to die." They then leave Weatherfield for good with their son Russ (Finton Flynn).

A Corrie insider said: "It will be a sad end for Samia and Will, who have grown very close since we paired them up - but dating your on-screen lover is a lot of added pressure."

Thorp and Smith have been dating in real life since January.