Dee-Dee’s time in Weatherfield is coming to an end (Picture: ITV)
Grab your tissues, Coronation Street fans. There’s a tearful goodbye on the cards as the legendary Diana “Dee-Dee” Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) treads the cobbles for the last time… leaving behind a broken heart.
The sassy solicitor is set to take the traditional black cab out of Coronation Street for pastures new, which will come as a punch to the gut for doting beau Ollie Driscol (Raphael Akuwudike). First meeting in August 2025, the unlikely couple didn’t have the sweetest meet-cute – Dee Dee represented Ollie when he was charged with dangerous driving after crashing his brand new car!
Even though Dee-Dee wanted to keep things professional, she couldn’t resist the scrumptious chef’s charms as he gradually gained her trust and embraced her baby daughter Laila.
But in coming weeks, viewers will see Dee-Dee gradually pull away from Ollie as she refuses to commit to spending Christmas Day together, leading to an emotional breakup, as Dee confides some life-changing news in bestie Alya Nazir (Sair Khan).
Ollie is part of the new Driscoll family (Picture: ITV)
After three years on the Street, Actress Channique Sterling-Brown reflects on her decision to leave the show. ‘It wasn’t a rash decision. I felt really torn, but I really had the sense that it just felt like the time. I feel like I’ve been so privileged, and I’ve got to tell some great stories.’
Arriving on the Cobbles in 2023, Dee-Dee traded the La-La Land glitz of Los Angeles for Weatherfield as she moved across the Atlantic to be closer to her family.
An indispensable part of Clan Bailey, viewers warmed to her when she helped Dad Ed (Trevor Michael Georges) through his gambling problem and enjoyed her warm dynamic with brothers Michael (Ryan Russell) and James (Jason Callendar).
‘I’m going to miss winding up the Bailey boys.’ Channique laughs. ‘I really leaned into the princess trope when I was there. So I’m definitely gonna miss all the Bailey boys’.
Dee-Dee’s time on the Street has not been without heartache. Her darkest moments in Weatherfield started when she embarked on a romance with evil solicitor Joel Deering (Calum Lill), who was physically and sexually abusing his client Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton).
When Dee-Dee learned she was pregnant with Joel’s child, she wrestled with the decision of what to do. Whilst ultimately deciding to keep her baby, the pregnancy led to serious complications resulting in a hysterectomy.
Channique’s character has been through a lot in a short space of time (Picture: ITV)
Worse still, her concerns and pleas for help were dismissed by doctors, which led Dee-Dee to realise she had been a victim of medical gaslighting due to her ethnicity.
This important issue story highlighted the real-world issue of institutional racism within in maternal healthcare, where women of colour are at higher risk of complications due to not being taken seriously.
Despite the difficult ordeal, there was light at the end of the tunnel when Dee-Dee gave birth to her daughter Laila. She agreed to let her brother James adopt the baby, and the two shared an unorthodox parenting agreement.
This uplifting ending to Dee-Dee’s pregnancy journey was a high point for Channique. ‘I really love that she was super adamant about her adoption. I know some people think, oh, it’s a shame that you didn’t stick with that one. But people’s minds do change, and I think that’s a really good journey to go on. To have been brave enough to saw ‘this is what I need’, that takes courage.’
Dee-Dee tells Alya some big news (Picture: ITV)
Even when things got tough, Dee-Dee was a kind-hearted soul and a lioness who always looked after friends and as a solicitor, had a strong sense of right and wrong.
Coronation Street fans fell in love with her as she moved in with her friend Paul Foreman (Peter Ash), supporting him both legally and personally through his battle with Motor Neurone disease in 2023. She also wasn’t afraid to stand up to her boss, the wily Adam Baldwin (Samuel Robertson).
Channique shares how the character has grown during her time on the street. ‘I think she’s changed a lot. She was just like an enigma, she was so ditsy when she came. But I think she very quickly, we saw her heart with her being with Paul, and we saw her strength standing up to Adam. She’s obviously a bit worse for wear. But I think she’s finding her way back to herself. She’s finding some happiness. And I think that’s life, isn’t it? You obviously change and things shape you, but it’s how many times you get back up. That’s what counts.’
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After three years of drama, what can fans expect from Dee-Dee’s departure?
Can’t wait for the next twist?
Hi, I’m Calli Kitson, Soaps reporter at Metro. I cover Emmerdale, EastEnders, Corrie and more.
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Channique was tight-lipped on the details, but did hint at a happy ending for our Double D. ‘She’s very unlucky in love. She seems to be taken with Ollie. But I think if anyone deserves happiness it’s Dee-Dee. I can’t say too much about how it ends, but I think how it ends is right for her journey. No matter what, I think she’s already found that happiness in Laila. And I think that’s beautiful.’
And so, as Dee-Dee prepares to sashay off into the sunset, Channqiue Sterling Brown has a treasure trove of wonderful memories to take with her – literally! ‘I was angling for a salt and pepper shaker from Roy’s, but I didn’t manage to get one of those.’ She laughs.
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‘The cast very kindly got me some lovely bits. I took home her little D necklace. I will be taking plenty of my costumes, she has a great wardrobe. I’m going to dig out those little business cards of Dee-Dee’s. I want to find one of them for my little memory box!’
Arrow MORE: All the Coronation Street cast exits, returns and changes coming in 2025
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