Kym Marsh will be dished out some of the "top storylines" on 'Coronation Street' over the next year.

Kym Marsh

Kym Marsh

The 39-year-old actress - who plays factory assistant Michelle Connor - has been promised she'll be entangled in some juicy plots on the soap following the departure of megabitch Carla Connor (Alison King) later this year.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "She will take over from Alison as 'Corrie's best all round performer being involved in the top storylines all the time. Losing Alison has been a devastating body blow deep down to the inner sanctum because not only was she a tremendous actress but Carla was seen as having everything for a soap role, sexiness, funny, ruthless, a boozer and depressive at the same time but all the time must watch TV.

"There is no doubt Kym can step into her shoes no problem - and the bosses are chuffed to bits."

And Kym isn't the only member of the cast who can breathe a sigh of relief knowing her gig on the Cobbles is safe, as Tina O'Brien, Melanie Hill and Faye Brooks - who play Sarah-Louise Platt, Cathy Matthews and Kate Connor respectively - have also had their contracts renewed.

Meanwhile, Alison confirmed she was waving goodbye to Weatherfield following 10 years playing the factory owner earlier this month after weeks of whispers and rumours.

Although details surrounding her departure are yet to be confirmed, bosses have decided to leave the door open in case Alison decides she wants to return at a later date.