Bye Bye Ryan: Sol Heras is leaving Coronation Street

When Ryan Connor returned to Coronation Street after a brief sojourn in Glasgow, ITV recast the character with Sol Heras, a very good looking young man. While it isn't always the case, casting primarily for looks has not always been very successful (think about Adam Rickett!) and, in my opinion and that of many others that read this blog, judging from comments made, this recast was a disappointment.

It will be no surprise that Sol Heras is moving on soon and his exit storyline as Ryan will be aired at the end of the summer with Ryan leaving Weatherfield to be a DJ in Ibiza. According to the Daily Star, Sol has enjoyed his time on the cobbles and had become good friends with Kym Lomas who plays his mother, Michelle and he'll miss her. He won't miss being harassed by some of the fans who think Ryan shouldn't have come between Katy and Chesney!

For me, Ryan has never been a character that did much for me at all, including the prior incarnation when Ben Thompson played him. Partly, that was due to the misfire of the baby switch storyline, one that ITV obviously prefers we should just sweep under the carpet and forget it ever happened. Probably the best thing, really.

The first Ryan Connor was a good lad, but turned a bit surly when he got his heart broken by Sian who took up with Sophie Webster. You can hardly blame him. When Ryan returned, he was arrogant and cocky, tall and good looking. He returned home in the shadow of scandal, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him apparently and set out straight away to cause trouble.

He  accidentally started a fire at Number 13 when he visited Sophie who was cleaning the house. He tried to rip off Underworld by pretending to be injured just because he didn't want to work there and was being spiteful to his mother and Uncle Rob. He fell for Tracy Barlow's manipulations. He flirted with Katy just because he could and that was his downfall. He ended up with the girl and her nappy-filling baby which cramped his style. He finally found the backbone to break up with her and now he's floundering. A career in the kebab shop won't be for him so a new life in sunny Ibixa will probably be more up his street.

I just feel relieved he's going. I won't have to struggle to make out what he's mumbling about. Now if we can just do something about Katy and put her back with Chesney because Chesney is clearly not that into Sinead. Shame though, I liked her.


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