Thursday 15th May 2003
Actor KEVIN KENNEDY at the recent Upfront and MG Rover event in aid of the NSPCC (Photograph by PATRICK BALDWIN)
Coronation Street‘s Curly Watts and his police sergeant wife Emma are to leave Weatherfield for a new life in the North East.
Actors KEVIN KENNEDY and ANGELA LONSDALE will bid farewell to the show in the autumn.
But it is hoped that KEVIN will return to his role as councillor Curly Watts some time next year.
The Watts‘ dramatic departure from the show comes as the inevitable consequence of the current police brutality storyline.
Emma has put her career and marriage on the line by covering up for colleague Mick Hopwood after he beat up layabout Les Battersby.
As a result of next week‘s dramatic developments where Emma lies in court to save Mick‘s career the Watts‘ marriage reaches breaking point leading to an emotional and dramatic departure for Emma.
And after discussions with the show‘s producer KIERAN ROBERTS, KEVIN KENNEDY has decided to use this opportunity to take a break from the show to pursue other projects
KIERAN is hopeful that KEVIN will return to the show as Street favourite Curly some time next year.
Actress ANGELA LONSDALE had been speaking to producer Kieran Roberts for some time about her plans for the future after 3 years in the show.
Angela said: "I love working on CORONATION STREET but I was an actor for 10 years before I got the part of Emma Watts and I really feel the time is right to move on now. The outcome of this storyline means that I can take new opportunities that are being offered and I am really excited about the future."
Producer KIERAN ROBERTS said: "ANGELA has made a fantastic contribution to the show and it is fitting that she is involved in such a powerful exit storyline."
ANGELA said: "I have been discussing the future of Emma with the producer for some time and everyone including me felt that it was the right time to say goodbye to the character.
"I have made some fantastic friends her at Granada, I will be very sad to leave them all but I know that I will keep in touch and continue to see them."
In dramatic developments next week Emma lies in court to save Mick‘s career after he beat up layabout Les Battersby.
When innocent Les is found guilty of the assault Emma is promoted and decides to move away from Weatherfield to further her career. Distraught Curly is left with the choice of whether to follow her or stay in Coronation Street.
KEVIN said: "I have been wanting to take some time to pursue some new exciting projects for a while now and this gives me the ideal opportunity.
"After 20 years in CORONATION STREET I am keen to spread my wings a bit. I have been in discussions with KIERAN and we decided that this would work for everyone concerned.
"I am pleased that KIERAN has allowed me to take this time out and I look forward to playing Curly again in the future."
KIERAN added: "There is a huge amount of affection for a character of such long standing therefore we are reluctant to say goodbye to that character permanently and I will be working with the story team to try and devise a suitable return for Curly."
In the meantime Celebrities Worldwide says thanks for the memories Curly, we‘ll miss you!
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
