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Coronation Street lesbian Sian Powers will soon be on her bike at the same time as the soap’s bosses plan a mass clear-out.

Only two weeks ago actress Sacha Parkinson said her character Sian had a strong future as Sophie Webster’s lover.

But she is going to hit the road early next year, coinciding with a cast cull.

Craig Charles’s character Lloyd Mullaney is going to be “rested”.

Regulars who will be terminated include wife-beating builder Chris Gray, his ex Cheryl and their nine-year-old Russ.
Corrie cull

It will mean goodbye to actors Will Thorp, 33, Holly Quin-Ankrah, 24, and child star Finton Flynn.

But Charles, 46, will be coming back to Weatherfield next spring.

Sian’s departure is such a *shock because at the British Soap Awards two weeks ago Sacha, 19, and Brooke Vincent, 18, who plays Sophie, predicted a strong future for the gay lovers they portray.

Sacha said: “As Sian I’m glad Tommy Duckworth’s *attempt to break us up didn’t happen. Everyone expects one of them will either go straight or cheat.

Iceberg

“But I think they’ll stay *together. It’s gone past the line of them splitting up.”

Corrie viewers have been stunned by scenes of the two pretty teenagers kissing and tumbling into bed together.
Corrie cull

Out: Cheryl and Chris Gray

The bonfire of the characters was *revealed at a storyline conference *overseen by *producer Phil Collinson.

But it is not all one-way traffic and he wants to revive some departed faces, *including Nikki Patel, 20, who played Dev *Alahan’s *daughter Amber Kalirai.

Since the conference with top-level *scriptwriters and advisers a fortnight ago the Rovers Return set has been buzzing with rumours that even more actors will be given their marching orders.

Our Street source revealed: “This cull is going to have a massive *impact on the show.

“Phil is determined to bring in new cast members to replace some of the old *familiar faces.

“It is his way of putting his stamp on the show.

“Everyone is worried these *changes will turn out to be the tip of the iceberg and will lead to even more people being shown the door.”

We can reveal Sacha is *definitely exiting the show at the *beginning of 2012.

Her lover Sophie falls for Amber, who left Weatherfield in 2009 to go to university in London and returns this year.Amber’s thoughts about her *sexuality have been shifting as her *attitudes change and Sophie seduces her. Their *passion leaves Sian heartbroken.

At the soap awards Sacha and Brooke even suggested the rumoured arrival of another lesbian, which we now know is Amber, may not necessarily have an *impact on Sophie and Sian.

Brooke said: “I’ve heard that *rumour. Just because she’s a lesbian it doesn’t mean it’s going to affect us. There are a lot of lesbians. There’s a lot of straight people on the street too. It’s all up in the air. If you want to know what’s happening, ask the writers.

Sacha added: “We never normally know until it’s about to happen. There’s no point in asking us.” The actress joked: “All I’d say is that she better not try it on with my bird because I’d be gutted.” Earlier this year Sacha, who has been playing Sian since 2009, said: “They should get *married. It would be great. We want to prove to viewers they aren’t just going through a phase.”

The Gray family are on the way out this winter after bosses decided they had *nowhere to take the characters.

Dwarf

In the story Chris Gray dumps Maria Connor, played by Samia Smith, 28, who is Will Thorp’s girlfriend.

Chris rekindles the flame with ex-wife Cheryl and the pair, who arrived last year, will quit Weatherfield with son Russ.

Lloyd will be devastated at the loss of former lapdancer Cheryl, the object of his affections, and he will disappear for a few months. Craig Charles’s temporary *absence makes sense in the light of the return of cult TV sitcom Red Dwarf next year. He will be back as Dave Lister beside Chris Barrie, 51, as Rimmer and Danny John-Jules, 50, as Cat, and has been given time off to film the episodes.

Collinson, dubbed Cull-inson on set, took over as producer of the ITV1 soap in 2010. He is under growing pressure to boost viewing figures and make more cash as the recession bites.

The soap pulled in 11.5million *viewers in January shortly after the dramatic tram crash. But in recent weeks figures have dropped to as low as 7.7million. There has been an *exodus of cast members ever since his arrival.

In April Ashley Peacock and wife Claire, played by Steven Arnold, 34, and Julia Haworth, 31, were both *written out. Bill Tarmey, 70, filmed his last scenes as Jack Duckworth in September after 31 years. Beverley Callard, 54, quit as Liz McDonald in October after two decades.

Vicky Entwistle, 42, who was Janice Battersby for 14 years, left in December after disagreements with Collinson over her character and storylines.

Adulteress Molly Dobbs, played by Vicky Binns, 28, was killed off too.

Earlier this year Katherine Kelly, 31, said she planned to leave at the end of the year but *revealed her *character Becky McDonald could return. Coronation Street *declined to comment last night.