Mollie Gallagher is departing Coronation Street after almost 7 years.
The actress joined the ITV soap in 2019 as the long-lost niece of Roy Cropper (David Neilson), Nina Lucas. She was a young carer for her father Richard, who passed away within weeks of her introduction.
Establishing herself in Roy’s Rolls cafe, Nina entered a relationship with Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni). In 2021, her striking gothic appearance sadly brought her to the attention of a vile group of teenagers, who chased the couple through the streets and killed Seb.
She was haunted by his death in the aftermath, and fought to see his killer – Corey Brent – sent down.
Nina found happiness again with Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey) in 2022, though the romance ended when Nina kissed Asha’s twin-brother Aadi (Adam Hussain). The girls eventually called a truce, and in scenes that aired last week, decided to move in together.
A more recent story saw Nina and Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) take LSD, and become convinced that they had attacked a hospitalised Gary Windass (Mikey North). It transpired that Lou Michaelis (Farrell Hegarty) was the real culprit, and that she was trying to frame the girls.
Sadly, it seems that Nina and Asha’s new beginning is going to be brief. Gallagher has signed on the dotted line for her professional stage debut – as Clarice Starling in the UK and Ireland tour of Silence of the Lambs.
She’ll star alongside former EastEnders actor John Partridge, and recent Emmerdale departee Oliver Farnworth.
A Coronation Street spokesperson told Radio Times: “Mollie has created a unique and well loved character in Nina over the past six and a half years and everyone will be sorry to see her go.
“It is fantastic for Mollie that she has been given this incredible opportunity to play such an iconic role and we wish her all the best for the theatre tour.”
Radio Times understands that an impromptu, surprise leaving party was held at the Coronation Street studios in Trafford, Greater Manchester, last week. Her final scenes will air at the end of August.
Read more:
- 5 Coronation Street spoilers this week: Twisted Megan Walsh’s trial arrives – and so does her mum
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- Coronation Street airs major Tyrone Dobbs and Carl Webster development in early ITVX release
Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 or can be streamed from 7am on ITVX.
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Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
