UPDATED 7.23PM: It turns out this was merely a story blown out of proportion by The Sun, and fans will be pleased to hear Rita is not retiring from the Kabin. An ITV spokesperson said: "We don't want to spoil the storyline for viewers, but rest assured Rita will not be permanently quitting the Kabin at all."
Rita Sullivan is set to step down from her role as newsagent in the Kabin after 36 years. The shock news broke today, and comes just a day after it was announced that Jack Duckworth is moving out of Coronation Street.
Rita will inform Norris and Emily of her retirement following Ramsay's wake, when she considers how short life can be. She tells them: "His death made me think about why I'm working at the shop when I don't need to. I'm fed up of working, I'm going to retire. I know I've said it before but this time I mean it and I won't be changing my mind."
This leaves the door in the Kabin open to some new faces, and Tina is expected to take up a bigger role in the running of the business. It is unclear yet if this will mean Rita's role in the show will be reduced.
What are your thoughts on the news? I'm hoping this doesn't mean we'll be seeing less of Rita now, and she will continue to play a significant part on the Street. Quite surprised at the decision, but in retrospect it is not too surprising as Rita is in her 70s now. Sound off below!
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Another retiree, hate to see Rita leave because it reminds me that I too am getting old. Have been watching Coronation St. in Canada since the very beginning and miss all old characters as I will miss Rita.
Another retiree! I am sorry to see Rita leave as I have been watching the Street in Canada since it first aired here and Rita has been with the program a long time. I miss all the old characters as I will miss both Rita and Jack. Good luck to both of them.
I thought Rita was retiring ages ago, when Tony offered to buy the shop, what happened about that?
I am not sure if this is actually true or just a rumour.
She's a landmark in the Kabin and will be the end of an era, Rita and Mavis in the kabin in the old days was a classic pairing, as is Norris and herself, so it was good the way they bought someone new in for Rita's assistant, it will be sad to see the tradition gone, but this is corrie....who knows!!
Some many questions for such a straightforward comedy! Why would the www.solarhotwatersystem.net apparently grown-up Elliot spend himself broke supporting his parents' run-down Catskills resort in the first place?
Hope Rita Sullivan doesn't leave the Street. Too many in soaps etc. are going and it's certainly not the same...I stopped watching The Bill ages ago as they are all new cast to me.....wouldn't like NOT to watch Corrie