On “Coronation Street,” a major exit is on the horizon as the villainous Joel Dearing, played by Callum, is set to leave the show after a dramatic year. Since his introduction last September, Joel has been a formidable antagonist, with his sinister actions coming to light only in May. He brutally attacked Lauren Bolton, drove her into hiding, and even tampered with her food to induce early labor and potentially harm their unborn child. Despite the birth of their baby Frankie, Joel’s villainy continues as he plans to send Lauren to Northern Ireland to evade justice.
The truth about Joel starts to unravel when his fiancée, DD Bailey, becomes suspicious of an email about Belfast airport and discovers conflicting stories from Joel’s ex-wife Emily. Emily’s warnings and the inconsistencies about a charm bracelet for his daughter Mave deepen DD’s suspicions. As DD investigates further, she uncovers that Lauren plans to move to Northern Ireland, raising more red flags.
Callum, who has portrayed Joel with chilling effectiveness, has announced his departure, having signed on for this storyline with a predetermined end. In a recent interview, he expressed his excitement for the resolution of Joel’s story while acknowledging the bittersweet nature of leaving such a rewarding role. Callum is set to take on a new role as Flesh Creep in the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theater later this year. As Joel’s dark secrets come to light, his time on “Coronation Street” is drawing to a close, with his dramatic downfall on the way.