Faye Brookes stunned fans by confirming her shock exit from Coronation Street today - despite recently gushing about her future on the show.
"Thanks to everyone for your amazing support, but after 4 fabulous years in Weatherfield it's time for me to explore new opportunities," she tweeted today.
"I've loved playing Kate Connor, but she needs a break for a little while and so with a song in my heart I'm off to pastures new."
But it was only yesterday that Faye - whose onscreen partner Rana Nazie (Bhavna Limbachia) died in the Underworld roof collapse - teased what the future may bring for her character.
Coronation Street's Faye Brookes QUITS soap after 4 years
"It would be nice to see her happy, but I honestly don't believe she'll ever be the same again," she told the Daily Star.
"She's on edge and I don't know where that could go. Anything could happen and I love that about my job – it keeps you on your toes.
"I don't know how anybody could get bored here at Corrie. But I do hope she finds some sort of happiness."
So what prompted the sudden change of heart?
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Fans immediately speculated she was unhappy with the direction of the show, with one tweeting, "Good decision it's going rapidly down hill at the moment - you did your best with those story lines but it was all grief and PC drivel."
Others thought it might have something to do with her forthcoming wedding to Gareth Gates.
The couple split last September after six years together amid claims her hectic schedule was leaving him at a loose end.
“Gareth doesn’t always have a busy schedule like Faye and can get bored when he’s left to his own devices – and it’s during these times he would feel the need to call her phone more often," a source told The Sun.
However they later reunited after she reportedly pulled out of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here 2018 to give things another go.
According to The Sun, she felt too heartbroken to take part and has pulled out to give her romance with Gareth another shot.
Mirror Online has contacted Faye's rep for comment.
