Another shocker that has the cobbles buzzing: Channique Sterling-Brown – the actress who plays Dee Dee – has confirmed she is leaving Coronation Street.

But it’s not just a break from the show, it’s about the assault, the threats and the control Dee Dee has.

She’s not just Tyrone’s best friend, she’s also privy to many secrets – and now she’s decided to leave the street to protect herself.

Dee Dee reportedly knew about the attack on Tyrone & Fiz early on – she was part of a small group with inside information about Tyrone’s garage.

When she received the message: “If you don’t cooperate, we’ll take him to the police”, she decided to plan her exit: not to expose the mastermind right away, but to leave a note: “I’ll be watching from afar.”

The audience began to question: was this the character’s decision (wanting to start a new life) or was it forced (being forced to leave because the enemy had her back)? I set up the scenario: Dee Dee left with a black suitcase, a letter saying “Goodbye Weatherfield. See you again.” Before getting in the taxi, she turned to look at Tyrone & Fiz through the car window: her eyes were quiet but meaningful – as if to say: “Be strong.”

While the street thought she was simply leaving the show, in fact the Weatherfield residents began to wonder: “If Dee Dee leaves, who will hold the key?” “Is she hiding to strike?” Many people speculated: Dee Dee could return in a spin-off series next year, with a new identity, a new target – or the person behind the whole threat that is slowly being revealed. Tyrone and Fiz know they have lost an ally – but it is unclear whether they have lost the only person standing between them and the enemy.