Kym Marsh leaving Coronation Street all those years ago is still one of those moments Corrie fans remember clearly. Michelle Connor had been part of daily life on the cobbles for so long that her sudden exit left a lot of people wondering what had really changed behind the scenes. With everything Kym has taken on since, that decision now makes a lot more sense.
When Michelle Connor Was Still Central to the Cobbles
Kym walked away from Coronation Street in 2019 after spending 13 years as Michelle Connor. It was a demanding role with heavy storylines and long hours, and she was reportedly earning around £100,000 a year at the time, which made her exit feel even more unexpected. Her success on Corrie came after years in the spotlight. Kym first became famous in 2001 after appearing on ITV’s Popstars, where she won a place in Hear’Say.
The group scored two number-one singles, and when she later went solo, she added two more top-ten hits to her name. Michelle Connor also brought Kym major recognition as an actress. She won two Best Newcomer awards in 2008 and later picked up Best Female Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards in 2017 for a stillbirth storyline that sadly reflected her own loss of baby Archie in 2009.
The Personal Reasons That Changed Everything
When Kym confirmed she was leaving Corrie, she was open about why it felt like the right time. Writing in her OK! column in 2019, she shared that she had loved every minute of working on the show and had made great friends there, but she felt ready to take a break and spread her wings. Family was a huge part of that decision.
Kym explained that the upcoming arrival of her grandson played a big role, as she wanted more time to spend with him and with her daughter Emilie after the baby was born that summer. Later that same year, Kym became a grandma for the first time when Emilie welcomed her first child. Stepping away from the cobbles allowed her to focus on family life while still keeping her career moving.
Since quitting Coronation Street, Kym has quietly built an even bigger career. She now runs a company called Pade Ltd, and accounts from the past two years show she’s earned around £500,000. She’s also pushed herself with new acting roles. Kym is currently starring in The Imposter, which has just launched and is set in a hotel in Australia. For all the latest Coronation Street news and soap updates, keep checking Soap Opera Daily.