CORRIE stars Vicky Entwistle and Shobna Gulati have been axed, bosses admitted yesterday.
ITV chiefs were forced to come clean and reveal the Mirror's exclusive story last week about a planned New Year cull was true, after worried actors demanded to know their fate.
But Vicky, who has played loudmouth factory girl Janice Battersby since 1997, insisted yesterday there were no hard feelings about her exit.
The 37-year-old actress, who is married to the show's props man Andy Chapman, said: "When I joined Coronation Street I never imagined that I would stay for nearly nine years.
"I have had an amazing time but understand why the decision has been taken for Janice to leave. This is a new beginning for me and I am looking forward to moving on to new challenges in my career.
"I have made some good friends and even met my husband working on this show - who could ask for more?"
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Shobna, whose character Sunita Alahan is currently pregnant with twins, is also resigned to leaving. She said: "I've had a really good time and I'm happy that Sunita gets a big storyline.
"She won't fizzle away. It will be an emotional, rocky, rollercoaster ride. It will challenge people."
Shobna, 38, is expected to film her final scenes in February when new Corrie producer Steve "The Iceman" Frost has taken over.
But Granada TV said there are no plans to kill off either Sunita or Janice - meaning both stars could return to Weatherfield in the future.
The decision to wield the axe was made at a long-term story conference last week, and more big-name departures could be on the cards.
As well as the exit of the two established stars a final storyline is also planned for newcomer Zaraah Abrahams, who plays factory girl Nailah.
The Mirror's story revealed that Granada chiefs plan to reduce the large cast.
A Street insider said: "Vicky was the biggest shock and her exit has caused even more twitchiness in the studios.
"Since the story there has been non-stop gossip about who is going and who is staying. People were asking the question: 'Am I going or what?'"
Current producer Tony Wood said: "Shobna and Vicky are superb actresses who have proved extremely popular.
"However, it is the nature of soap that characters come and go, and the writing team and I felt these characters had run their course for the time being."
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Sunita can go but I want Janice to stay! 
Originally Posted by Keating's babe
