Tracy quits the Street

Coronation Street has been hit by a second big-name departure with news that Kate Ford has decided to quit the soap.

10:43 29 December 2004

Coronation Street has been hit by a second big-name departure with news that Kate Ford has decided to quit the soap.

The Daily Star yesterday reported that the actress, who plays Tracy Barlow, is planning to walk out on the show early in the new year, despite only recently signing a new one-year contract with ITV bosses.

Her decision to leave comes only days after Suranne Jones made her dramatic departure over Christmas after her character, Karen McDonald, lost both her baby and husband Steve.

Ford, meanwhile, is said to want to move on to other things and intends to follow in the footsteps of other actors who have left soaps to move their careers forward.

"Kate always joined the street as a stepping stone," the Daily Star quoted a friend as saying.

"She is tremendously talented and has many aspirations in showbiz. She has witnessed how Anna Friel walked out of Brookside and hasn't looked back."