Don't miss out on the biggest soaps gossip! Get a daily email direct to your inbox with our newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Craig Charles has quit Coronation Street after ten years.

The actor - who plays Weatherfield cabbie Lloyd Mullaney - will leave the role to focus on filming the two new series of sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf.

Charles said in a statement: "I have had an absolutely fantastic ten years on Coronation Street and I will be very sad to leave.

"Lloyd has become a huge part of my life and I have made some amazing friends with whom I will always keep in touch.

"But I feel I owe it to my colleagues on Red Dwarf to join them in filming the new series and finding out what is in store for Lister and the others."

(Image: Joel Anderson Photography 2012)

The star didn't rule out a return for the show either, adding: "I would love to return to Coronation Street at some point in the future."

It is not yet known if Craig's on-screen departure will be linked to that of his on-screen love interest, Andrea Beckett.

Hayley Tamaddon, who plays Andrea, will depart the cobbles during the soap's live episode to mark its 60th anniversary.

It was recently revealed that sci-fi comedy classic Red Dwarf is making a comeback.

Two new series have been commissioned, reuniting Craig Charles (Lister), Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Danny John-Jules (Cat) and Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) as the four hapless space explorers.

The shows will air on TV channel Dave in 2016 and 2017 after beginning production in the autumn.

Red Dwarf's co-creator Doug Naylor, who is writing and directing Red Dwarf XI and XII, said that he had been trying to bring back the series since 2012.

"Frustratingly it's taken until now to get our ducks in a row and all the boys available at the same time. Now they are, we're all absolutely delighted," he said.

The now legendary Red Dwarf attracted a cult fanbase and a dedicated following after first airing in 1988 on BBC2.

The first episode featured the technician character Dave Lister on the mining ship Red Dwarf, who wakes up to discover that he has been in stasis for three million years and that his fellow crew have been killed by a radiation leak.

The show went on to attract more then eight million viewers, was broadcast in 25 countries and scooped International Emmy and British Comedy Awards.

(Image: Joel Anderson Photography 2012)

After a 10-year absence, Dave initially brought back the show in 2009 with Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, which became the biggest ever non-terrestrial commission attracting over 2.6 million viewers - followed by a six-part series, Red Dwarf X in 2012.

Commissioning editor Simon Lupton said: "Red Dwarf has superb talent attached: writing, directing and acting plus an expert team who absolutely know what they are doing when it comes to delivering a stand-out piece of television.

"It has a universal appeal that manages to touch long-standing fans and recruit new ones.

"It is fantastic to be collaborating with them again on the next phase of the Red Dwarf adventure."