Debra Stephenson 'exhausted' By 'Coronation Street'

Debra Stephenson has revealed she quit 'Coronation Street' because it left her too exhausted.

The actress - who played the role of Frankie Baldwin from 2004 to 2006 - decided to quit her job because she wanted to spend more time with her husband James Duffield, and their children, Max, seven and Zoe, two.

She said: "James and I decided that we wanted another child and I got pregnant. But my job was so full-on. Sometimes I was doing a six-day week when I had a big storyline and it was relentless.

"By the time I was heavily pregnant, I had that mad plot where Frankie developed feelings for her stepson Jamie (Rupert Hill) and I found it draining. It was a bit of a shame because I left the show in an exhausted state and I needed a couple of years off after that."

Debra also revealed she had never really settled in Manchester and needed to "devote some proper time to the kids."

Debra will now feature in a new show with impressionist Jon Culshaw to be broadcast on BBC One from Saturday (31.10.09)