Ali (played by James Burrows) has been at the centre of some of Coronation Street’s most epic storylines since he made a permanent return to the cobbles back in 2018. With an exit on the horizon for the beloved ITV soap character following the announcement James Burrows, 28, has quit, and his rivalry with loan shark Gary Windass (Mikey North) set to step up a gear, there are a number of ways Michelle Connor’s (Kym Marsh) biological son could be making a departure. However, as secrets rise to the surface, will he end up fleeing Weatherfield, never to return?
Viewers have watched as Ali has got himself embroiled with former lover Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) again in recent scenes, with the pair sleeping together as a result of the latter believing her corked boyfriend Gary was up to no good.
This week, the GP will be full of jubilation as he thinks his ex is going to give things another go, only for him to be dealt a cruel blow when he discovers she has accepted his hand in marriage.
Convinced the loan shark is bad news, the troubled character is likely to continue his mission to expose the supervillain of the cobbles.
The former builder is currently unaware his partner has cheated on him and as everyone knows, secrets about antsy harboured for long in soapland, so could the big reveal lead to Ali’s imminent exit from Weatherfield?
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A source told The Sun: “Ali’s been one of the most popular characters on the cobbles but the time has come for him to leave.
“He’s at war with murderer Gary Windass over ex Maria Connor and the pair will be involved in a brutal showdown on the cobbles soon.”
Although the men will go head-to-head, the publication has reported the door isn’t being closed for Ali’s character.
Express.co.uk contacted a spokesperson of Coronation Street, who confirmed James will be leaving in the not-so-distant-future.
However, what many don’t know is Ali was the character who killed drug lord Ronan Truman (Alan McKenna) back in 2018.
When the criminal pursued the GP’s brother, Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott), who he blamed for the death of his son, Corman Truman (Joe Mallalieu), the departing character took action to protect his family.
If Gary were to discover this information, it could cause huge repercussions for his love rival if this became common knowledge.
With his fate as a free man in the hands of a supervillain, will Ali flee to ensure his past doesn’t catch up with him?
The character was first introduced back in 2007 when it emerged he and Ryan had been switched at birth.
Although he lived with his biological mother Michelle for some time, her love for his non-biological brother caused her to push her son away.
Ali was left heartbroken and when his older self turned up on the cobbles two years ago, he still held a grudge against his birth mother.
Before she made her own exit in December, the pair’s relationship was stronger than ever, so could he go to join her in Ireland?
Coronation Street continues tonight at 7:30pm on ITV.