ITV Coronation Street star's exit from cobbles leaves fans emotional

Corrie enthusiasts are feeling a bit misty-eyed as show favourite Dolly-Rose Campbell, known for her role as Gemma Winter, takes a brief hiatus after ten years in Weatherfield. In Monday's episode, Gemma departed the Street for a little time out.

Viewers won't find her temporary exit too shocking given the hard times her character has been facing lately. .

Her struggles began while juggling life with her quadruplets Aled, Bryn, Carys, and Llio alongside husband Chesney. After the births, Gemma battled post-natal depression but delayed sharing her ordeal, opting to return to work in an effort to support her family financially.

The situation was further compounded by tragedy when Gemma's twin brother Paul Foreman died from motor neuron disease in September 2023.

Since then, Gemma's been having a tough go of it, which has not gone unnoticed by her loved ones. Her brother Kit, observing her distress, suggested she take some respite at a friend's Lake District cottage, reports the Mirror.

Chesney concurred, encouraging Gemma to take this much-needed break.

The storyline prompted fans to express their thoughts on X — previously known as Twitter — with heartfelt messages like: "Can't blame her for needing a breather to find herself again," and hopeful wishes such as: "Hope she comes back soon."

One eagle-eyed fan remarked: "Seems a bit sudden."

whilst another added praise, highlighting: "She is playing her character so well and going through hell."

Audiences are set to welcome Gemma back on screen soon, as she makes a comeback from her trip alongside other characters in next week’s episodes. Before Dolly-Rose Campbell became a Coronation Street regular, her first acting gig was as Sasha Dyson in Doctors back in 2010.

She featured in several episodes that year, yet before her TV career blossomed, she honed her skills serving drinks as a bartender. Dolly-Rose herself once shared, "I've worked behind a bar in real life, it was before Coronation Street when I worked in radio. I did hospitality and bar work."

The skills certainly proved useful for her role at the Rovers Return.

After auditioning for the part of Gemma Winter, the actress went on a tour of Weatherfield and during this visit, she learned she had snagged the role. Recalling the moment in an interview, she said: "I'd had an audition before the tour but I wasn't expecting anything. While we were walking around my friend said, 'Imagine if you got a job on it' and I was saying that would never happen. Just a couple of days later I got a call saying I had the part."