“Coronation Street may be saying goodbye to soap icon Rita Tanner”
Coronation Street fans are worried that Rita Tanner could be facing a surprise exit after more than six decades on the show.
The cobbles legend, played by Barbara Knox, first appeared in 1964. Since then, Rita has become one of the soap’s most cherished characters. As the owner of The Kabin, she’s been at the center of countless major storylines over the years.
From a brain tumor diagnosis to her involvement in the iconic tram crash, Rita’s time in Weatherfield has been full of drama.
Her love life has also kept viewers talking, having been married three times—to Len Fairclough (Peter Adamson), Ted Sullivan (William Russell), and Dennis Tanner (Phillip Lowrie).
On top of that, Rita holds the record for receiving more marriage proposals than any other character—a staggering 15 proposals from 12 different men.
This week, both fans and Rita were left emotional as her adopted daughter, Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews), departed Weatherfield, nearly 40 years after her first appearance.
Viewers will remember that Jenny chose to leave following several dramatic years in the town, seeking a fresh start in Spain.
In emotional scenes, Jenny and Rita shared their heartfelt goodbyes. Now, fans fear that Rita could be facing a similarly devastating departure from the cobbles.
On a Coronation Street Facebook fan page, one viewer commented: “Bless Rita! Made me tear up, hope she’s going to be alright.”
Another added: “I think she’ll be next to leave. There’s not much left for her there anymore.” A third speculated a tragic health storyline: “I feel she might get cancer or fall seriously ill.”
Another fan speculated that Rita could be killed off during next year’s Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover episode: “They might wait to kill her off until the Emmerdale crossover.” A fifth agreed: “Yes, I think this too.”
Soap boss Iain MacLeod recently revealed that a cherished Weatherfield character will be written out in the new year as part of the historic crossover with Emmerdale in early 2026.
Speaking ahead of the ITV show’s 65th anniversary in December, executive producer Iain told the Daily Star: “The soap gods demand a sacrifice when you have an event of this kind.”
He added: “Sometimes the biggest and most memorable exits are for the characters you care about the most. It’s going to be shocking, with plenty of trauma, drama, and unexpected twists.”
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