CORRIE favourite Peter Gunn has been axed from the soap, The Sun can reveal.
The actor, who plays Brian Packham, was given the boot by new producer Stuart Blackburn last week.
Peter, who first appeared in Weatherfield in April 2010, will leave the cobbles later this year.
The shock axing — the first since ex-Emmerdale boss Stuart took the reins — has sparked fears that more stars could soon be heading for the exit.
An ITV source said: “Brian goes down well with the viewers. They love his light-hearted banter. Peter has done a brilliant job in developing the character.
“Most of the staff thought his position was as safe as houses. So when the news came out of the blue that he was getting the chop, people were shocked.
“It is nerve-racking when someone new comes in to try to change things. It was expected that a younger star with little connection to viewers would be the first out. But it seems the new boss felt the character was running out of steam for the future.
“Peter will be missed by lots of people around here. And the atmosphere on set has become very tense because everyone is wondering who will be next.”
Peter became a regular when previous bosses decided to flesh out his English teacher bit-part.
They saw his bumbling character as an easy source of comedy — and he soon became a hit with viewers.
After landing the job of head at Bessie Street School, he kicked off a steamy relationship with factory worker Julie Carp, played by Katy Cavanagh.
A Corrie spokesman said last night: “Peter will leave at the end of his current contract.
“The decision is purely storyline-driven. Peter is a great actor who has made the character of Brian Packham a joy to watch.”
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