CORONATION Street star Luca Toolan has broken his silence after leaving the soap after just 16 months.
The actor â who played Mason Radcliffe in the ITV soap â has opened
up about his feelings when bosses told he would be leaving the soap
in a dramatic knife crime storyline that has seen his character brutally murdered.
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He said: âOf course when I first heard there was a mixture of emotions because I was sad that Mason was going to die and that means I would be leaving, but equally I was really excited and honoured to be part of this storyline because itâs an incredibly important issue that needs to be tackled.
âI feel so privileged to have had this opportunity to start my professional career at Coronation Street and what a great time Iâve had.â
And heâs had to keep the secret for almost a year.
He added: âI found out around February or March time so it was a long time coming. It gave me the opportunity to do a lot of research into the storyline which was great.â
The scenes saw Mason stabbed by his brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.
Mason stumbled to a playground and sat until Abi Webster found him and desperately tried to save him.
He was rushed to hospital but sadly died.
And Luca found it exhausting.
He said: âIt was exhausting to film but amazing. I was so focused and a storyline like this is what you crave as an actor.
âI love the long days and working my butt off and even filming outside in the cold.
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âEvery single day I would wake up and be absolutely buzzing to go to work.
âThe full crew were so supportive and created an environment that you could put yourself in that emotional headspace and get on with it.
âIt was an amazing experience filming those scenes.â
Viewers watched the devastating twist tonight but Luca was not amongst them.
He said: âI donât particularly like to watch myself with other people anyway, so Iâm not sure if I could watch this one with anyone.â
Coronation Streetâs 2024 shock exits
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Letâs break down whoâs left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo)Â has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the ÂŁ10,000 bribe Elizaâs grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paulâs impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simonâs been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely sheâll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
But heâs planning to continue working after Corrie, adding: âI love acting so much and I really hope Iâll continue doing it.
âIâve seriously learned so much from Corrie and Iâm so grateful to everyone involved there. As for my future, Iâm not sure what it holds but the saying I like to say is: âIâm aiming for the stars and if I miss, Iâll hit the moonââ.
