Coronation Street star confirms exit – and reveals plans to move to Australia
A STAR from Coronation Street has confirmed her exit and has revealed her plans to move to Australia.
The soap personality was working as a jobbing actress before she landed her role on the long-running ITV soap.
Farrel Hegarty recently made her debut on Coronation Street as Lou Michaelis in February 2025.
The actress knows her part has already been compared to legendary battle axes such as Janice Battersby, who was played by Vicky Entwistle.
"Lou is gobby, loud, irrational and it’s lovely to be compared to such a big character, like Janice Battersby," she admitted to
"You always dream of landing a part like Lou. So to get it later in life, is overwhelming and I cried. I was so happy."
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However, she admitted that her contract on the show was only for a finite about of time, but before she will relish every second.
“I’ve loved it all and even now, a few months in, it’s surreal walking on the cobbles." Farrel gushed.
"So much has happened in such a short time, and we’ve caused chaos. I’ve never had so many arguments!"
“To get this role is a dream come true, but I always knew I would one day be leaving.
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She added: "Joe [Layton] and I came in together and will leave together. How we do it, I can’t say, but it’s brilliant being part of the show.
"Watching the other actors is like a masterclass in acting. When I do film my final scenes, I’ll probably cry."
Before she landed her role on the long-running ITV soap, the actress admitted that she was planning to move to Australia as life as a jobbing actress is 'hard'.
The star admitted: "Working as a jobbing actress can be hard. There were 50 people in my year at drama school 15 years ago.
"When we recently counted how many were still acting, it was only seven.
"I was about to move to Australia, to move in with my partner and the audition came up."
To get this role is a dream come true, but I always knew I would one day be leaving.
Farrel Hegarty
She added: "Either way, my life was about to go in a different direction, as I knew I’d either be going to Australia or joining Coronation Street.
"I knew if I got the role, then it was my time. Having a long-distance relationship is definitely not for the faint-hearted but my partner was never going to be angry that I was going to be in Corrie.
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"She knows how much it meant to me and how tough it has been."
Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.