Coronation Street star Channique Sterling-Brown has revealed that she has quit the soap to take the next step in her career.

As Dee-Dee, Sterling-Brown has been at the centre of some major storylines since she joined in 2022, such as her relationship with the evil Joel Deering, highlighting racial injustice in maternity care and representing Roy Cropper in court. Sterling-Brown was awarded the Best Newcomer at the 2023 British Soap Awards for her work on the series.

The actor admitted that she was initially torn when she was deciding to renew her contract with Coronation Street, but chose to leave after feeling like she had “done what I came here to do”.

“I made the decision in spring, and it wasn’t a rash decision,” she told Digital Spy and other media. “I felt really torn, but I really just had the sense that it just felt like the time.”

She added: “I feel like I’ve been so privileged, and I’ve got to tell some great stories, and it’s been so wonderful. And obviously I’m very led by my faith as well. So I just really took my time over it and prayed into it.”