Kym Marsh was seen leaving the Coronation Street studios in Manchester on Wednesday following fan speculation she might return to the show.

The actress, 48, cut a casual figure in a grey hoodie and black leggings as she departed the building alongside a male pal.

The former Hear’Say star wrapped up in a black padded coat and completed her outfit with a pair of white trainers.

Kym played Michelle Connor on Coronation Street from 2006 to 2019, winning the British Soap Award for Best Newcomcer for the role. 

However, a source close to the show told us Kym has no plans to return to the soap for the time being. 

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Kym Marsh was seen leaving the Coronation Street studios in Manchester on Wednesday following fan speculation she might return to the show

The actress, 48, cut a casual figure in a grey hoodie and black leggings as she departed the building alongside a male pal

Speaking to The Sun earlier this year, Kym fuelled rumours she could return to Coronation Street soon, saying she was open to a return.

She said: ‘I’d never say never to going back as I absolutely adore Coronation Street and I had some of my best years there.

‘I learned so much on that show and I made so many friends. But I left to kind of pursue other projects and I’m still in the middle of doing that, but, maybe one day!’

Michelle left the Cobbles in 2019 after discovering that her fiancé, Robert Preston, had fathered a child with Vicky Jefferies. 

She teamed up with Vicky to scam Robert out of the Bistro, a business they co-owned and then sold it to a mystery buyer, only to be horrified when she learned the new owner was Ray Crosby, a sleazy businessman who had previously made unwanted advances toward her. 

Devastated and furious, Michelle trashed the Bistro in a fit of rage before being stopped by Carla Connor. 

After saying emotional goodbyes to her family, including her sons Ryan and Ali, and warning them about Ray, Michelle left Weatherfield in a taxi to start a new life in Ireland with her parents.

It comes after Coronation Street and Emmerdale’s boss quit after 27 years with ITV.

Kym played Michelle Connor on Coronation Street from 2006 to 2019, winning the British Soap Award for Best Newcomcer for the role

The broadcaster announced this month that Managing Director of Continuing Drama and Head of ITV in the North John Whiston is stepping down from his role at the end of the month to enjoy his retirement.

With 40 years in the television industry and 27 with the channel, he is going to be missed after working on programmes such as The Chase, Vera and Heartbeat, and currently oversees the soaps.

Iain MacLeod and Matt Cleary will take over the role from Jon.

Announcing the news, John said: ‘I’ve always said I’ve got the best job in TV. I used to say it privately in case ITV stopped paying me.

‘It has been nothing short of an honour, as well as a blast, to work on the soaps this last decade or so.

‘We’ve had joy, we’ve had fun and we’ve had seasons in the sun.

‘We’ve also had misery and mayhem. We’ve had motorway crashes, tram crashes and floods.

‘We’ve had stories which have squeezed your heart till tears came out of your eyes.

‘And we’ve covered pretty much anything and everything that people have to face in their own lives and we’ve done that with care and humanity.

ITV announced that Managing Director of Continuing Drama and Head of ITV in the North John Whiston is stepping down from his role at the end of the month to enjoy his retirement

‘And all that is down to the 600 or so people – the writers, crew, cast and editorial – who have kept the show on air and at an incredible quality day in day out.

‘And it’s them who have made my job ridiculously easy. Just don’t tell ITV.

‘With the appointment of Iain MacLeod as Creative Director and Matt Cleary as Chief Operating Officer and with fantastic stories in place for the move to five episodes a week next January, and a never-before-seen mega mash-up between the two shows, the future for our ITV Soaps is set fair.

‘So it’s the right time to leave and for me just to say thank you… to colleagues, to ITV and to our loyal, appreciative audience.’

ain, who is currently Executive Producer for Continuing Drama, will be promoted to Creative Director.

He will take on all the editorial responsibility for creating the two popular soaps.

Meanwhile Director of Production, UK Scripted for ITV Studios Matt’s new role will be Chief Operating Officer for Continuing Drama – and will have to make sure that everything day to day runs smoothly.