It’s not known that Luca Toolan – the actor who plays Mason Radcliffe – had been secretly preparing for his character’s death for months.

In an interview with The Sun, Luca shared that he was told he was being axed in February or March, but had to keep it a secret for almost half a year.

“I knew Mason was going to die, but I had to act like nothing happened.

It was a very hard feeling,” he said.

When filming the final scenes, Luca said it didn’t feel like a “goodbye”. In the script, Mason only appeared in a casual scene with Tim, talking about sticky toffee pudding. “I didn’t think it was the last scene. I just remember laughing. But when I found out the truth, I felt empty,” Luca confided.

For him, Mason is not just a villain, but a boy lost in a world of sin. “Mason is blameworthy, but also pitiful. He never had the chance to be forgiven,” Luca added. He admitted he cried after watching Mason’s death scene: “Even though I knew it was coming, it was still hard to see him go down.”

After leaving Coronation Street, Luca Toolan didn’t rest. He quickly took on a new role in a short film set in the Middle Ages – with swords, armour and magic. “It’s completely different from Corrie. I get to fight, laugh, create. I feel alive again,” Luca said.

However, he doesn’t rule out a return to the small screen – perhaps even another soap. “I love the genre, I love how it connects with people every day. I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to Corrie, but I definitely will.”

A Mason is dead, but Luca – with energy and passion – is still alive, and ready to continue his journey.