Coronation Street star Alex Bain is struggling to accept the end of his time on the soap as he ‘begged bosses’ to bring his character back, it has been reported.
The actor, 22, who is known by many for playing Simon Barlow since 2008, has recently been very ’emotional’ as the choice was out of his control.
Although telling last year he was quitting the iconic ITV soap after 15 years – it seems it was not down to him and actually, he ‘really doesn’t want to leave’.
‘Alex has been putting on a brave face saying he quit the show but in reality bosses decided it was time for him to move on,’ a source told The Sun.
‘It’s been incredibly emotional for Alex and he really doesn’t want to leave at all.
Coronation Street star Alex Bain is struggling to accept the end of his time on the soap as he ‘begged bosses’ to bring his character back, it has been reported
The actor, 22, who is known by many for playing Simon Barlow since 2008, has recently been very ’emotional’ as the choice was out of his control (he is pictured in 2019)
‘He’s been begging bosses to keep him in mind for the future. He wants to go back already.’
His close pal and fellow Corrie star Jack James Ryan shared an emotional tribute to Alex, calling him an ‘icon’ and a ‘brother’ as they celebrated his exit from the soap.
Sharing the snap on his Instagram stories Jack, 28 – who played former bad boy Jacob Hay – posed hugging Alex alongside two female pals and penned proudly: ’15 years is no joke. an icon for so many & a brother of mine. we love u @alexbainofficial.’
The actor rushed to repost Jack’s tribute on his own stories, adding a sweet comment: ‘Love ya too man! thank you to everyone who came last night. It was an absolute blast!’
Playing the legendary character since he was only 7-year-old, Alex has now wrapped up filming and is set to depart in an explosive storyline in the summer.
Yet, In December The Sun reported a source revealed Alex, who became a father in real life in 2018, was ‘very excited’ to move on from the ITV soap opera into new opportunities.
MailOnline has contacted ITV and Alex’s representatives for comment.
Alex has been involved in a number of controversial storylines while on the Cobbles and won the British Soap Award for Best Young Actor in 2011 and scooped up another gong in 2014 at the Inside Soap Awards.
‘Alex has been putting on a brave face saying he quit the show but in reality bosses decided it was time for him to move on. It’s been incredibly emotional for Alex and he really doesn’t want to leave at all,’ a source told The Sun (he is pictured in 2018)
His close pal and fellow Corrie star Jack James Ryan shared an emotional tribute to Alex, calling him an ‘icon’ and a ‘brother’ as they celebrated his exit from the soap
The actor rushed to repost Jack’s tribute on his own stories, adding a sweet comment: ‘Love ya too man! thank you to everyone who came last night. It was an absolute blast!’
Alex – who joined Corrie when he was only 7 – has been involved in a number of controversial storylines while on the Cobbles and won the British Soap Award for Best Young Actor in 2011 and scooped up another gong in 2014 at the Inside Soap Awards (pictured in 2009)
In real life, the actor became a dad at the age of 17, when his then-girlfriend Levi Selby gave birth to their daughter Lydia-Rose at 16 years old.
At the time, a source said: ‘They were over the moon at the birth of their baby girl and were really happy together. But they’ve been through a lot together and they’re both still so young.’
Their relationship ended the following May, and the soap star met dancer Mollie Lockwood, 22, in 2019.
Alex then revealed in December 2022 that he had popped the question to Mollie two months earlier.
But the couple has reportedly already split – only six months after getting engaged, as Alex has wiped all trace of Mollie from his Instagram account.
An insider told The Sun: ‘They’re gutted the relationship didn’t work out, but they’re both so young it’s hard to make such a big commitment early on in their lives.
‘Their mates have rallied around to support them and keep them busy. Simon is focused on the soap and getting stuck into storylines and his role.’
After becoming engaged in October after one year of dating. The lovebirds then broke the happy news to their friends and families over Christmas, two months later.
Speaking to OK! magazine, Alex gushed: ‘I can’t spend my life with anyone else.’
While Mollie explained why the couple kept the news secret for so long, saying: ‘We wanted to enjoy that special time together, just the two of us, for a while.’
Alex spoke of his nerves, saying: ‘I thought, ‘If I don’t do it now, I’ll keep getting more and more nervous!’ I was pretty certain she’d say yes, but I was still bricking it.’
Alex has reportedly split from his fiancée Mollie Lockwood, 20, just 6 months after getting engaged
The actor announced that he had popped the question to Mollie, in December 2022
Alex became a dad at 17, when his then-girlfriend Levi Selby (pictured) gave birth to their daughter Lydia-Rose at just 16 years old. The couple split in 2019
Alex previously credited his daughter and his role on Corrie as saving him from ‘dark times’ in the past.
He said: ‘If I didn’t stick at the job that I’m in now I would have been lost.
‘Corrie has kept me going and especially having a daughter has kept me going – it gives me something to do.’
