Coronation Street’s Charlie De Melo says he wanted to QUIT after two years – but was stopped by a major curveball
IMRAN Habeeb actor Charlie De Melo is leaving Weatherfield after being involved in heart-stopping stories for almost five years.
However, the Coronation Street star admitted he had planned to leave sooner – but was stopped dead in his tracks by the pandemic.
Solicitor Imran Habeeb was first introduced to ITV viewers in November, 2017, as he was seeking solace from his failing marriage to Sabeen.
But after less than five years in the cobbles, and as it was recently announced, the character has been given a dramatic exit amid his battle for his son Alfie against Abi Webster as he’s involved in a car crash.
Speaking about his exit to The Sun and other press, Charlie De Melo admitted that “a multitude of things” convinced him it was time to pack up and leave.
He, however, had to wait almost three years before he could actually put his plan into action.
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Charlie confessed that he had originally wanted to quit in 2019.
“My first couple of years there were trying”, the actor recalled.
“I did find it difficult and as I was heading towards the end of that second year, I made the decision to move on, to draw a line under my time in Manchester.”
But as the year 2020 began, the decision was taken out of his hands by the Covid pandemic and he chose to remain in the cobbles until things settled down.
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“It was the more sensible choice to stay.”
“The subsequent few years since have been such a joy and then it got to a stage where I was enjoying myself over there.”
Time went by and, soon enough, the pandemic quietened down leaving Charlie to think about the future.
Despite enjoying his role on the Street, he still had no intention of following Corrie stalwart William Roache‘s example.
With no family or marriage to keep afloat, the actor noticed he only had to think for himself and stuck to his initial decision.
“I came to the realisation that I have no things that would necessitate consistency”, Charlie went on.
“I thought if I don’t close my eyes and step off into the void now, then I never will.”
As his story on the cobbles comes to an end, Imran Habeeb has been involved in what appears to be the opposite of a redemption arc, shedding his heroic image to wear the mask of a villain.
Imran notably fought to clear Yasmeen Nazir’s name of attempted murder, as she tried to writhe her way out of her former abusive husband Geoff’s grasp.
When he fell to his death after a rooftop showdown, she was accused of his murder and Imran was right there to prove her innocence along with the abuse she had endured.
Less than five years after his honourable deeds, Imran is bowing out, having since fallen from grace with fans amid a jaw-dropping storyline.
In recent episodes, the solicitor has successfully separated baby Alfie from his mother Abi Webster, resorting to underhanded tactics to get his son’s custody.
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As Charlie De Melo moves on to new ventures, will Imran be missed in Weatherfield?
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.