Coronation Street’s Dee-Dee Bailey has life-changing news to share with her friend Alya Nazir next week. Is this the moment that she announces plans to leave Weatherfield for good?

This announcement comes as Dee-Dee’s family begin to notice some strange behaviour from the ambitious lawyer, then she goes a step further by dumping her new boyfriend Ollie Driscoll. What is Dee-Dee about to tell her loved ones?

“It’s no secret that Dee-Dee is leaving the cobbles soon,” points out our Corrie source.

“Could she have news of an amazing opportunity which takes her away from Weatherfield? How will Ollie and the Baileys feel about this?”

Loved-up Ollie was eager to introduce new girlfriend Dee-Dee to his larger-than-life family when they arrived to take over The Rovers. So when he suggests they spend Christmas Day together, he’s a little confused when Dee-Dee refuses to commit to his plans.

Hurt by the fact she doesn’t want to get serious, Ollie decides to do some digging…

After rejecting Ollie’s romantic Christmas idea, Dee-Dee realises it’s time to start being more honest about her plans for the future. She opens up to her friend and colleague Alya, admitting that she has some big news she wants to keep secret.

Meanwhile, Ollie confesses to his gran that Dee-Dee not only rejected his Christmas idea, but she dumped him too. So Maggie sets her sights on defending Ollie and gives Dee-Dee a talking to – is this enough to change her mind?

Channique Sterling-Brown, who plays Dee-Dee, recently spoke to us about bowing out from the show – shortly after she’d filmed her final scenes.

“I made the decision in spring – and it wasn’t a rash choice,” Channique told us. “I really took a couple of months from being offered my next year contract to actually even respond.

“I felt really torn, but I really just had the sense that it felt like the time. I’ve been so privileged and I’ve got to tell some great stories, so it’s been wonderful. And obviously I’m very led by my faith as well.

“I just really took my time over it and prayed into it. I found a real sense that I had done what I’d come to do, if that makes sense. Not that I ever knew exactly what it was, but it just felt like I had achieved what I was sent here to do, so it was time to be brave.”

She added: “I was nervous to tell the bosses, but they were super understanding and super supportive. [Producer] Kate Brooks did definitely ask me to go and have an extra sleep on it over the weekend, but my mind had already been made up. They’ve been really supportive, which is lovely.”