Michelle Keegan understands that leaving a "safety blanket" such as Coronation Street is a difficult decision for any actress. However the 27-year-old star, who stars in hot BBC drama Ordinary Lies has now revealed that she wasn't expecting her character to leave in such a dramatic fashion.
Michelle Keegan's Ordinary Lies episodes airs on 31 March
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Monday, Michelle revealed: "I had hoped they wouldn't [kill off Tina] so it was a bit of a shock.
"I wanted them to leave the door open because it would have been reassuring to know the show would always be there. But then they told me they had this great leaving story line - and I was very lucky to go out on such a high."
Michelle left the show in May 2014, after her character Tina McIntyre was tragically pushed to her death from a rooftop.
Ordinary Lies is Michelle's first project since leaving Coronation Street
HELLO! Online blogger Michelle counted down to her exit from the show by posting preview clips of her last episode on Twitter. "Who does it?" she wrote, asking followers to guess who her character's killer is alongside the hashtag "#whokillstina".
"It wasn't an easy decision to leave the show and jump ship", Michelle added on the BBC breakfast flagship show. "It took me a few years to actually do it. I still miss everyone [from Corrie]."
With her wedding just months away, Michelle also discussed her strong relationship with fiancé Mark Wright, revealing: "He came from reality TV and I didn't - we are definitely from different sides of the spectrum."
Michelle and Mark Wright visited the Caribbean island St Vincent & the Grenadines
When quizzed about the interest in her private life Michelle explained: "You have to just put up with it.
"I know that's it part of the job. Me being with Mark - there was always going to be media interest as we are both in the public eye. It can be hard because you don't always want to be photographed - especially if you've got no makeup on. But it's part of the deal."