After five years on Coronation Street, actor Charlie De Melo is coming to the end of his time as solicitor Imran Habeeb - and it seems we might be about to see some big changes for his character in the coming weeks.
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During his time on the soap, Imran has become an upstanding member of the community but recently resorted to ruthless tactics in his custody battle for his son Alfie, presenting false evidence that Alfie's mother Abi was taking drugs again.
When speaking with RadioTimes.com and other press on the red carpet for this year's BAFTA TV Awards, De Melo teased: "Whatever the opposite of a redemption arc is, that's something that my guy's going through now.
"Imran's going from the sort of holier-than-thou white knight who's always a defender of the weak, and you see the cracks in the armour start to form and you see a slightly less palatable version of him."
He added: "It's in the next few weeks, that months' worth of build-up... things that were seeded last September are blooming now. That's all coming to a head in the next few weeks, and so that's what I'm excited about."
De Melo was revealed to be leaving the soap earlier this year, with a source telling The Sun: “Charlie’s loved his time on the soap but the time is right to try new things."
Charlie De Melo as Imran Habeeb Danielle Baguley/ITV
They added: “He’s hugely talented and very ambitious and wants to see what else is out there. He will always cherish his time in Weatherfield but for now it’s goodbye.”
Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV Guide.
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James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
