Coronation Street villain lands new movie role a year after quitting soap
A HUGE Coronation Street villain has landed a new movie role, a year after quitting the soap.
Viewers last saw several characters get justice as the evil character was written off for good in December last year.
Emrhys Cooper, 40, made viewers fume at the screen when he played cult leader Rowan Cunliffe on Coronation Street.
In the show he was responsible for emotionally manipulating Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) to become part of The Institute.
The star made his first exit just seven months after making his debut on the ITV serial drama, before Rowan was sent to prison at the end of 2024.
But long after filming his last scenes on the Salford set, he took to his Instagram story to tease his new project.
He posted a behind-the-scenes selfie as the former soap star wore a sleek black leather jacket.
The actor beamed as he posed for the camera beside his friend and latest drama colleague.
His caption read: “Great to be back on set, filming a fun new project directed by my talented friend @juliaverdin.”
Julia is a known for her work as a film producer and director, having worked with A-list talent including Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes, and Sienna Miller.
On Corrie, Emrhys’ character Rowan was mostly behind Leanne’s decision to distance herself from her family.
She clashed with her fiance Nick (Ben Price) and basically cut herself off from her sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor) when she was diagnosed with cancer.
Nick and Toyah secretly embarked on an illicit affair just when Leanne discovered the truth about the cult.
In the end, the crimes of his character caught up with him as he was found guilty of fraud and blackmail in dramatic scenes.
At the time of his departure from the soap, a source told The Sun: “Emrhys has been a great addition to the street but he does play a dastardly villain and so his story always had a beginning, a middle and an end.
“Rowan’s going to get even worse over the next few months and the story’s nowhere near its ending just yet but he will be saying goodbye to the cobbles.
“The question is whether he gets his comeuppance or how many more lives he destroys before he leaves?”
Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025
ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.
This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.
Colson Smith – Craig Tinker
The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.
Sue Cleaver – Eileen Grimshaw
After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I’m A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she’s already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.
Luca Toolan – Mason Radcliffe
Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.
Sue Devaney – Debbie Webster
In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.
Charlotte Jordan – Daisy Midgeley
The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she’s hungry to see what other opportunities await.
Shelley King – Yasmeen Metcalfe
The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.
Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
