After nine years on the cobbles, Alison King, who plays Carla Connor, will be taking a sabbatical from the show.

ITV have insisted she’ll be back but Alison is taking a break for “creative reasons” sometime next year.

The actress has been nominated for Best Actress in the upcoming British Soap Awards. Right now her character is at the centre of a big storyline with Tracy Barlow, and she’s been part of a lot of Corrie drama over the last year.

Coronation Street actors Antony Cotton and Alison King
Alison with fellow Corrie star Antony King (Dave Thompson/PA)

A Coronation Street spokeswoman said in a statement: “Alison King has indicated to producers that she would like to take a sabbatical from the show for creative reasons at some point in 2016. She wishes to try her hand at other projects before returning to the part of Carla Connor, a role she has enjoyed playing for nine years.

“Before Ali takes her break, Carla has much more drama to come. At the end of this month, she will be central to the explosive storyline which sees Victoria Court go up in flames, and the aftermath of that plotline will have huge consequences for the factory boss.

“Ali’s desire to take a break from the show gives the writers the opportunity to come up with a enthralling exit for the character.”

Everyone’s a bit upset.