[Callum]

Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has confirmed that she is leaving the soap.

The actress will film her final scenes for the show at Christmas and viewers will see her character Rosie Webster depart the cobbles in February 2012, the Sunday Mirror reports.

Flanagan's Coronation Street future was thrown into question a week ago when reports suggested that she was quitting due to her recent panic attacks. However, the 21-year-old has now said that her anxiety played no part in her decision to bow out.

"I have played Rosie for more than half my life and I feel the time has come for me to move on and try something new," Flanagan told the newspaper. "I am very excited about what the future might hold for me.

"I have loved playing Rosie and during my time growing up on Corrie, I have made some amazing friends and learnt an awful lot."

Flanagan, who is currently dating footballer Scott Sinclair, is thought to be leaving three months before the end of her contract. Show bosses are expected to leave the door open for her to return in the future.

A source said: "Helen will probably take a break from acting. She can't wait to spend time with Scott and take their relationship to the next level. She may return one day but it's the last thing on her mind now."

Flanagan has been part of the Coronation Street cast since 2000 and is the second actress to have played the role of Rosie.

The rumours were true then

[Jords]

But Rosie's great

[Visage]

Gutted.

[Scarlett.]

Rosie's been in the show for all 21 years of her life, will be weird her going (though Helen started playing Rosie 10 years ago)

[Kerry]

Wonder if they'll write her off into a celeb lifestyle

[Smithy]

[Jordan.]

I hope she gets killed off

[Visage]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

Wonder if they'll write her off into a celeb lifestyle

I was thinking that, either a modelling job round Europe or she meets some big Hollywood producer and he wants her over there.

They have to give her a really glamorous ending, she deserves that.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Visage

I was thinking that, either a modelling job round Europe or she meets some big Hollywood producer and he wants her over there.

They have to give her a really glamorous ending, she deserves that.

She'll be in magazines "and, like, EVERYTHING!!!!!!"

[Scarlett.]

I hope she becomes famous

Killing her off would be bull****, you don't develop characters for 21 years just to kill them off

[Visage]

Originally Posted by Jordan.

I hope she gets killed off

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Jordan.

I hope she gets killed off

That's not very nice!

[Visage]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

She'll be in magazines "and, like, EVERYTHING!!!!!!"

Yeah!

Before Helen leaves the show, they should take loads of different shots that can be used on the mags in the Hairdressers and the Cabin shelves many months later.

I could see Sally distributing the mags in the factory canteen.

[Kerry]

[Scarlett.]

They did quite a few fake photoshoots for Just Rosie :3

[Kerry]

Awwwwwwwww LOL

[Jords]

She needs to become famous.

Then its open for a return when it all goes 'tits up'

[Kerry]

I reckon they will do something nice Jetting off somewhere