Coronation Street's executive producer Kieran Roberts has quit.
Coronation Street
The soap boss - who has worked on the programme for 11 years - had been toying with the idea of walking away from the show since the beginning of the year, but decided to extend his stay because he didn't want to leave the cast and crew in the lurch when producers decided to extend the schedule to six episodes a week at end of last month.
He said: "This has been a huge and very difficult decision and it's one I have been thinking about for more than a year. When the move to six episodes was announced, I knew I should stay to help make that happen.
"I've been incredibly lucky to have worked on so many wonderful programmes and with so many brilliant colleagues during my time at ITV.
"'Coronation Street' is a special place and it's been a huge privilege working on such an amazing programme with the greatest team in television."
And it looks like the feeling is mutual as the team are devastated to see Kieran - who also worked on ITV's 'Emmerdale' during the 90s - turn his back on the channel.
John Whiston, ITV Studios' managing director for continuing drama, explained: "Kieran has brought to both 'Coronation Street' and 'Emmerdale' his unrivalled eye for story and character and his own particular humour and humanity.
"You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in ITV who doesn't deeply respect and admire Kieran. He's one of the most conscientious, hard-working, clever and humane colleagues one could ever hope to have. Ally this to one of the keenest editorial eyes in the business and you have the consummate television executive.
"ITV has been fortunate to have him devoting his incredible energy, talent and his working life to the company for as long as he has."
It's not known what Kieran will be doing once he leaves at the end of the year.