Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas waves goodbye to the show after a whopping 16 years next week, as his character Jason Grimshaw leaves Weatherfield for a fresh start in Thailand.
Jason's low-key exit storyline sees him manipulated by scheming Pat Phelan, who suggests that he should move away following all of the drama surrounding his father Tony's supposed involvement in Callum's murder.
But why did Ryan really quit the cobbles? He explains all here in an in-depth chat.
Was it a tough decision to leave Coronation Street?
"The toughest decision I've ever made, yes. Being here since I was 16, it becomes something that's just within you and it doesn't ever want to leave you. That's why I've never thought of leaving - because it's a great place to grow up and learn your craft as you go along. I think it's been the best job that I'll ever have in my life."
Did you ever expect to stay for this long?
"Well, I used to get 'three months at a time' contracts. Bruno [Langley, who plays Jason's brother Todd] was getting six months and I was getting three months! I don't know if it was to do with my behaviour when I was growing up, but I was just being a normal 16-year-old.
"I remember saying to my dad: 'I don't think I'm going to last on this'. He told me: 'Son, you'll be lucky to be there six months'. Every year goes by, I go: 'Dad, I did another year, 16 years later, I'm still here!' And now I get to make the choice to leave, which I never thought would happen."
So why have you decided to go?
"Well, let's get one thing straight - it wasn't to go to Hollywood, which everyone seems to think it was all about. A journalist said to me: 'Would Hollywood be something you'd think about?' I said: 'Hollywood is every actor's dream'. Next thing you know, it's on the front page that's why I'm leaving.
"One of the main reasons it came around is probably a lot to do with Tez [Terence Maynard] who played my dad Tony. I felt like I was working with a movie star and I was doing something that wasn't Coronation Street when I was filming with him.
"So I want a taste of something new and I want a different experience. I feel like sometimes you go round in circles with storylines and sometimes you feel there's something else out there. I feel like it's a bubble, this show. It's the best bubble but now it's time to pop it, test myself and take myself out of my comfort zone a little bit."
What are your future ambitions?
"It could be stage, it could be TV, or I could disappear and start learning my craft - start from the bottom and do some acting classes again. These are all things that I need to do because I feel like I haven't done them yet. As much as I'm very scared about going out there, it's very exciting.
"Now, more than any time, is the right time to do it. My daughter Scarlett is at an age where she's grown up a lot more now. Her mum Tina [O'Brien - Ryan's ex-partner who plays Sarah Platt in the show] is obviously here at Corrie, which is fab and it means that I'm not having to financially look after my daughter on my own.
"By leaving I've already achieved something, but I don't want anyone to have these expectations of me doing these big things. If these big things happen, they do, but I'm going to learn so much from this - both as an actor and as a human being."
Was it important for you that the door was left open, rather than Jason being killed off?
"I was very happy that they're not killing me off, but I don't want to look backwards. Everyone's going: 'Would you come back?' and I've said: 'That's not the idea. If I did that, then I wouldn't be looking at the journey ahead of me'. It's a great safety net, but that's not how I'm looking at it.
"I'm looking at it as: 'This is final, a new chapter'. I don't want to dwell on the old, because as much as I love the place and the job, it can't be something I think about because otherwise I won't succeed in my next venture."
Have you been pleased with Jason's exit storyline, including Tony's recent death?
"Massively, yeah. I'm glad that it involved the Grimshaw family. Coronation Street is all about family and to do my last scenes with Sue Cleaver [who plays Jason's mum Eileen] and with Bruno has been really special for me, because I've grown up with them. The writers have played that out beautifully.
"Tez is also like a father to me and he's been a massive impact on the end of Jason's time in Coronation Street. I talk about him a lot because I do love him a lot. It's a shame, really. I know why they did it, but it's such a shame that we can never see the character of Tony come back. That's the only downfall of playing this storyline out. But that helps because it's very emotional for all of us. He was a big part of our lives when he was here."
Why does Jason decide to go to Thailand next week?
"He doesn't decide it - Phelan does. Phelan plants all these seeds and it just becomes a bit overwhelming for Jason. There's a lot of pressure on him, because he can't hack it and he wants to get away from it all. There's a lot of encouragement from Phelan and I don't think Jason would have done it on his own.
"I've really enjoyed working with Connor [McIntyre], who plays Phelan. He's playing it out beautifully and he will continue to do that for a long, long time hopefully. I hope they drag this out for as long as they can."
Did you get emotional filming your final scenes?
"I filmed the last scene and I cried twice. The first time was when I picked up the script and that caught me off guard. It was the first time it hit me that I was leaving. Then it was the same when we rehearsed the scene where Jason says goodbye.
"Sue is like a mother to me, so it's real. I was even saying: 'Have we overplayed this?' but there's nothing you can do about it. It's genuine and how you feel about these people."
How did Sue and Bruno react when you told them you were leaving?
"They weren't happy about it at first, but as time went on, they knew it was something I have to do for me. They are very supportive and understanding. I'm a big boy now and they have to let me make my own decisions.
"Bruno's done it, Tina's done it, so I feel like I'm a bit behind and I missed out on that. I need to fill in the gaps and have what they had. They said they wouldn't take anything back, and that's great to hear."
What else can you tell us about your future plans?
"I want a complete change, so I'm moving to London. I'm looking to do some courses in drama, which will be great for me. I'm even looking at disappearing for a little bit and going under the radar.
"I love what Michelle Keegan is doing in Our Girl, so I'd love to do these big dramas. The theatre doesn't really appeal to me, but I know I have to do it to add another string to my bow. All these things will be taking me out of my comfort zone and testing me. I'm not the best singer, but I will do it and I will test myself. If it means auditioning for a musical, then I'll do it.
"I don't mind them saying no to me. Rejection is all part and parcel of it and something I need. I've never been in an audition situation apart from Corrie, and literally 15 minutes after coming here I got the part and the rest is history. I need to find out what that's like, and I'm happy not to get jobs. I need to know how that feels."
What's it been like growing up in the public eye?
"Amazing in one sense, but it's very difficult. When you're 16 and maturing through the show, you're going to make those mistakes but you're doing it in the public eye. I wanted to go to nightclubs like all my other mates and I was being told by Corrie that I couldn't. So I still went and did it and got myself in trouble.
"You have to find a balance and you get there eventually. It can be overwhelming even now. It catches you off guard and you realise how massive this show is. You can have all the money in the world as a footballer, but you never get the same kind of fame as you do being in Corrie. It's intense and you never get over that, but you channel it in the best way possible."
How does your little girl feel about you moving to London?
"Very sad. I've noticed her saying a little more recently 'I'm missing you daddy' and I'm not even gone yet. It does pull on your heart strings, but I'm going to be back in Manchester all the time. Scarlett loves London, so she'll come and stay with me in the school holidays.
"The great thing about my relationship with Tina is I can see my daughter whenever I want. I'm very lucky in that sense. Tina will come to London with Scarlett and it's never an issue where I'm on a schedule and I can only see Scarlett at certain times, like some parents are. I've still got my place in Manchester, so when I'm here I can pick her up from school and spend some time here."
Obviously your brother Adam Thomas is in Emmerdale as Adam Barton. Do you fancy going into that show as another Barton brother?
"How can I go into Emmerdale when I'm in the best soap now?! I can't leave the best soap to go to another soap that isn't as good as my one! I've got to be territorial to my show and say it's the best, just like everyone else will say their show is the best.
"The one thing I would love to do is work with my brother, as that would be fantastic and maybe that opportunity will come at some point. But I said to Adam: 'Don't leave Emmerdale yet or I'll never get a job!' He's too good, he's better than me!"
Do you feel there's been any missed opportunities from your time in Corrie?
"That's tough because there is nobody I've not touched on a storyline with. I've worked with Michelle Keegan, Kate Kelly and Tina - these powerful female actresses. Then I've got the alpha males who I've had great stories with.
"Jason hasn't been at the centre of every storyline, but he's always involved in big storylines, which is why it was nice at the end to have his little goodbye and show a lot more depth with Jason.
"Maybe if I was staying around a little bit longer, they would touch on that even more, but now that I'm going outside in the big wide world, it's been lovely to have that opportunity and to have a showreel. I've been very blessed and lucky to have the storylines I've had. And the women that Jason has had! Thank you
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Originally Posted by tammyy2j
