Coronation Street viewers are left in tears as Peter Barlow’s emotional exit plays out after 23 years on the soap

Coronation Street viewers were left in floods of tears as Peter Barlow’s final scenes were played out on Boxing Day.

It was revealed actor Chris Gascoyne was quitting the show in July but fans weren’t prepared for such an emotional farewell in Tuesday’s episode.

Following on from the Christmas Day cliffhanger, when Peter’s wife Carla (Alison King) bought him a one-way ticket out of Weatherfield, the pair began rowing as Peter accused Carla of trying to get rid of him.

After a tense and emotional heart-to-heart, Carla persuaded Peter to join his friend Mickey on his yacht, reasoning that they would be better off apart from each other and ending their toxic relationship.

Then came the time for Peter’s emotional farewells with his family but disaster struck when his son Simon (Alex Bain) was nowhere to be found, with Peter forced to run off and catch the tram without getting the chance to say goodbye.

Viewers were left in floods of tears at the scenes, taking to X – formerly Twitter – to share: ‘that’s it, peter gone and that’s the end of peter and carla… i’m so heartbroken i don’t even know what to say #Corrie’;

‘carla’s letting peter go so he can be happy and not have an ending like aidan but peter just wants her to go with him #corrie’;

‘chris gascoyne has worked tirelessly for so many years to develop one of the most wonderful, complex, vulnerable characters in television. i am in awe of him. he will forever be deserving of so much praise + appreciation. peter barlow you will always be so precious to us #corrie’;

‘I really hope Peter comes back one day #Corrie’; ‘Tissues gutted ❤️ That was brutal guys. Goodbye Peter I’ll miss you. Peter & Carla splitting that hurts legend of an actor leaves the show #corrie’;

‘I stand by the fact that Peter Barlow is one of the all time great #Corrie characters – and Chris Gascoyne is one of the show’s great actors. Lovely stripped back episode to mark his departure X’;

‘I know he wanted to be out of it but Carla letting Peter who she claims to love leave doesn’t seem believable to me #Corrie’; ‘that’s it, peter gone and that’s the end of peter and carla… i’m so heartbroken i don’t even know what to say #Corrie’;

‘An emotional #Corrie, a beautifully put together exit for Peter, well played Chris and Alison. I’ve said before Peter is one of my favourite characters and Chris has given me some of my favourite moments in the show over the years.’;

‘He’s come and gone over the years, I feel Peter does need a rest character-wise and they’ve written him out well #Corrie’; ‘Peter leaving and I’m in FLOODS #Corrie’;

Chris first joined the soap in 2000, making a debut during the 40th anniversary live episode.

He later quit in 2003 and made a swift return in 2007, before quitting again in 2014.

The actor joined the soap again in 2016 and has continued to play Peter ever since, in storylines such as alcohol addiction and custody battles.

His onscreen dad, Ken Barlow, has seen seven actor’s play the role of his son, with Chris possibly being the last in his dramatic departure.

John Heannau played him from 1965–1970, before Chris Dormer took over for a year, before Mark Duncan took over a year later in 1971.

Ken Barlow actor William Roache’s real-life son Linus Roache then joined the soap as Peter in 1973 for two years, before Joseph McKenner made his debut in 1977 for a year.

Speaking about his final scenes, Chris revealed it had been ‘great to work with’ on-screen wife Alison for the last 14 years, adding: ‘We never rehearse the scenes really before we do it,’ he said.

‘You get one or two takes and I kind of know how Ali will play it. I just react and she reacts to me; that’s the joy of it, really, and I think that if in a scene you don’t know what’s going to happen next, the audience don’t [either].

‘When I read that last script, it was emotional, not because I was leaving, but I genuinely, genuinely felt moved by it.

‘I think it’s as well-written script as you’re going to get at Coronation Street and I think most people will have had exactly the same thing in their life, so they’ll identify with it.’

Yet he refused to close the door for good on Weatherfield, adding: ‘Of course I’ve not ruled [a return] out, it’s been such a part of my life.

‘I’ve grown up with so many people there but I need a rest and to look to do something different, I’m not getting any younger.

‘The thing that upset me though was walking away from the people I work with and I don’t just mean the actors. I’ve known all these people for nearly half my life.’

Meanwhile, Chris’ on-screen son Alex Bain is also quitting the hit ITV soap after 15 years, it has been reported.

The actor, 22, has played Simon Barlow since he was seven years old and is set to depart in an explosive storyline in the summer.

Alex, who became a father in real life in 2018, is said to be ‘very excited’ to move on from the ITV soap opera.

A source told The Sun: ‘Alex is sad to be leaving Coronation Street because it really is like a family — but he realises that the time is right to move on.

‘He’s very excited about the future and other opportunities.’

Alex has been involved in a number of controversial storylines while on the Cobbles and won the British Soap Award for Best Young Actor in 2011 and scooped up another gong in 2014 at the Inside Soap Awards.