Coronation Street could be bidding farewell to one character next week 47 years after their first debut on the ITV soap.
Soap fans will recall that only recently a furious Tracy Barlow, played by Kate Ford, finally learnt that love interest Tommy Orpington, played by Matt Milburn, was moving to Spain for a new job as a football coach. Tracy learnt the news from her scorned estranged husband Steve McDonald, played by Simon Gregson, who took delight in telling her he was leaving the cobbles for sunny Spain.
Earlier this year, Steve was left heartbroken to learn that wife Tracy had been having a secret affair with Tommy after meeting in the flower shop on Christmas Day. Tracy's affair has left Steve, as well as their daughter Amy, played by Elle Mulvaney, and Tracy's father Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, all devastated.
And in upcoming scenes, Tracy could be leaving the cobbles to join her new squeeze in sunny Spain. In spoilers for next week, Steve reads the letter from Tommy inviting Tracy to move to Spain with him and hides it. Meanwhile, over lunch in the Bistro, Tracy admits to Amy that she misses having a man in her life.
Later, Steve returns home and is taken aback to find Tracy there and as he reaches into his pocket for Tommy’s letter, he stops in his tracks when Tracy announces she'd like them to get back together. Tracy assures Steve that Tommy was a stupid mistake and promises she's back for good.
In the mood to celebrate, Steve heads out for a celebratory bottle of wine but upon revealing that he's back with Tracy, Dev Alahan is left horrified and refuses to serve him. Instead, Steve suggests they go to the pub and as Tracy heads to the Rovers, he wastes no time in burning Tommy's letter in a bid to save their marriage.
However, later in the week, it appears Tracy might learn of Tommy's letter as spoilers reveal she heads home for the last of her things ahead of a move to Spain and admits to Ken, Amy and Daniel how much she’s going to miss them. Wanting to toast Tracy off in style, Ken suggests a farewell drink in the Rovers.
Later, Ken, Amy and Daniel raise a toast to Tracy and wish her well with her new life in Spain as Steve buries himself in his newspaper to which daughter Amy feels sorry for him. Is this really the end for Tracy on the cobbles and will she go through with her move to Spain?
Tracy made her first appearance on the cobbles all the way back in 1977 and actress Kate Ford has portrayed the fiery character since 2002. Prior to this, Tracy was portrayed by Christabel Finch from 1977 to 1983, Holly Chamarette from 1985 to 1988 and Dawn Acton from 1988 to 1999.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITV X.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .