Ryan Thomas is set to leave Coronation Street next year. The actor, who plays builder Jason Grimshaw, joined the soap as a teenager back in 2000, but now feels it is "the right time to spread my wings and try other roles".Confirming his decision to leave the long-running ITV show, the 31-year-old said: "It has been a great privilege to be in Coronation Street for the past 15 years.
Ryan Thomas has revealed he is leaving Coronation Street next year
"The cast and the crew are amongst the best in the business and to have had the chance to be a part of it for so long has been an amazing experience. "The decision to leave was an extremely difficult one but I felt that now was the right time to spread my wings and try other roles. I'm just excited now to see what exit storyline the writers give Jason."Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn said he wished Ryan well in his future projects. "Ryan has been an important part of Coronation Street for 15 years. We wish him every success when he moves on next year and we appreciate his desire to try new things.
The 31-year-old has played builder Jason Grimshaw for 15 years now
"In the coming months he will be at the heart of a massive story, affecting not just his family but the Websters and the Windasses too which will take us well into 2016."Before announcing his decision, Ryan hinted at the Pride of Britain Awards that he was ready to leave. "Going to Hollywood is a dream so I'm going to see what happens," he told the Mirror."We can always dream. I have been on the show for 15 years now, I always pinch myself. I am blessed."