CORONATION Street legend Ken Barlow decided the high life at retirement home Stillwaters would never be for him and broke the news to his partner Claudia Colby.
Claudia – who is played by Rula Lenska on the ITV soap – was then dumped by Ken when she announced she wanted to stay. But does this mean she’s quit the show for good? Here’s everything you need to know about Claudia’s exit…
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Has Rula Lenska quit the Corrie for good?
HOAR Online exclusively reported that Rula has quit Coronation Street after two years playing hairdresser Claudia.
The actress appeared on the soap on and off since 2009 but returned full-time in 2018 and quickly struck up a serious relationship with Ken.
Claudia bought Audrey’s salon and then moved in with Ken, before convincing him to sell his house and move to the luxury retirement home Stillwaters with her.
But he decided he could no longer stand living the lush life this week and broke the news to Claudia that the complex would never feel like his home.
When Claudia announced she wanted to stay, he called their relationship a day.
Claudia was gutted and said: “You’re really going after all I’ve done for you and your family.”
Ken then tried to reassure her by replying: “I’ll reimburse you for the cost of Peter’s rehabilitation programme and I’ll make sure you’re not out of pocket for this place.”
After asking whether he definitely wanted the split, Claudia then decided to let him go and told him her next fella was going to be a toy boy.
A source told HOAR Online: “The door is definitely open for Rula to return and Claudia still has connections on the street.
“But for now Claudia’s life is on the veranda of Stillwaters and Ken belongs in his backstreet boozer.”
Why did Ken decide to leave the retirement home in Corrie?
Ken told Claudia he couldn’t stand everyone’s obsession with the finer things in life at the retirement home.
Viewers also know that the soap legend made a nemesis of scammer Charles Lake, a fellow resident at the retirement complex.
Ken plotted with Norris and Claudia for months to bring Charles down, before gleefully exposing Charles for the fraud he is at the Stillwaters President Elections.
But following his victory, Ken realised he could never fully settle into life at the retirement home.
Viewers also know it irritated him not being able to bring his pet Eccles – who has since died – into the home.
Is Ken returning to Weatherfield?
Ken looks set to return to Weatherfield after packing up his belongings and departing from the lush retirement home.
Fans are delighted by the news of Ken’s return – and also by prospect of the retirement home storyline ending.
One fan said: “Oh Ken wants to return to the ‘little pond’ of Coronation Street! Hurrah!#Corrie.”
Another added: “Thank God the old people’s village storyline is over. Could put a glass eye to sleep. Get back on the cobbles Ken. #Corrie.”
But Corrie are yet to confirm whether Ken will actually be returning to the cobbles, and fans will have to tune in to find out.
