Coronation Street character Paul Kershaw has been axed from the ITV soap.
Actor Tony Hirst, who first appeared as the fireman in 2010, will bow out of the show when his contract comes to an end later this year.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Paul will be killed off, although it is currently unknown if his death will tie into the upcoming Rovers Return fire.
A Corrie spokesman said: "It's a big year for the character of Paul. He will be at the centre of some explosive storylines which will culminate in a dramatic departure."
Writers apparently felt that they had taken the character as far as they could. His previous storylines included a love triangle with Eileen Grimshaw and his Alzheimer's sufferer wife Lesley.
At least one major character will die in the Rovers Return fire, with the latest reports suggesting two Corrie regulars could lose their lives.
Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe