Former Coronation Street star Jack Carroll has broken his silence on his character's unexpected departure from the long-running ITV soap, describing the low-key exit as part of a modern trend.
From the Cobbles to Comedy
Jack Carroll joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2023, taking on the role of Bobby Crawford, the nephew of established character Carla Connor. The actor, who first found fame as a runner-up on the seventh series of Britain's Got Talent, quickly became a familiar face on the famous Weatherfield cobbles.
However, viewers last saw his character in May of this year when Bobby headed off on what appeared to be a temporary holiday. The situation became clearer several weeks later when, during a conversation between characters Betsy Swain and Lauren Bolton, audiences learned that Bobby had left Weatherfield for good.
A Modern Approach to Soap Exits
Speaking openly about his departure in an interview with The Sun, the 27-year-old comedian admitted he felt grateful about how his exit was handled. Carroll revealed he was pleased his character wasn't killed off and instead enjoyed a drama-free departure from the show.
He explained his perspective on current soap exit strategies, stating: "That seems to be the trend in the way that they do exits now, it's a bit more low key because it gives everybody a bit more flexibility if you need to arrange some pieces of the jigsaw in the future."
This approach allows for potential returns, and Carroll hasn't ruled out revisiting his character down the line. He confirmed that while he would consider returning to Coronation Street, the "circumstances would have to be right." The Bradford-born actor added that he couldn't imagine a scenario where he would decline the opportunity if it arose.
Returning to Comedy Roots
For now, Carroll - who has cerebral palsy - expressed excitement about returning to his first love: comedy. He also took time to praise the Coronation Street writing team for their work on his character, noting how they had successfully "distilled down" the essence of his stand-up persona during his early scenes on the show.
He told the publication: "That's probably a good primer on what to expect as well, if you come and see me on the tour." This suggests fans of his performance in Coronation Street can expect to see similar humour and personality in his upcoming live comedy work.
