Coronation Street Star Departs Amid Grooming Scandal

Coronation Street, Britain’s long-running and much-loved soap, has never shied away from difficult topics. But its latest storyline—centered on a controversial grooming plot—has sparked heated debate, viewer discomfort, and now, the sudden exit of one of its rising stars. Oscar Aldersley, who played the schoolboy Lee, confirmed this week that he has left the show, his departure coinciding with the most contentious arc Weatherfield has seen in years.

The drama at the heart of the controversy revolves around Megan Walsh, a schoolteacher whose web of deception and manipulation has ensnared not just one, but multiple students. According to el-balad and The Sun, Megan’s story began with a secret relationship with Will Driscoll, a student several years her junior. The revelation that Megan had been grooming Will for months was shocking enough, but the plot thickened when she began a romantic relationship with another teacher, Daniel Osbourne. This love triangle, fueled by secrecy and betrayal, quickly spiraled out of control.

The tension reached a boiling point when Megan learned she was pregnant. In a bombshell confession, she told Will that she believed he was the father—a claim that only added fuel to an already blazing fire. Will, already reeling from Megan’s duplicity, lashed out in anger, even physically attacking Daniel in a fit of jealousy and confusion. The emotional stakes soared, and viewers watched as the storyline dove into ever-darker territory.

But Megan’s actions didn’t stop there. As the plot unfolded, it was revealed that Will was not the first student to fall victim to her grooming. Enter Lee, played by Oscar Aldersley, who made his debut during a tense football match scene. Lee, a friend from Will’s old school and another of Megan’s former students, brought new layers to the story. He expressed lingering feelings for Megan, sending her a text saying he “missed” her. Megan, however, rebuffed him, insisting she had moved on with a teacher at Weatherfield High.

Lee’s heartbreak was palpable. In a candid conversation with Will, Lee confessed, “I had a thing with her last year. I thought it was serious, but now I can see she was just using me.” Will, still under Megan’s spell, defended her fiercely and accused Lee of lying. But their tense exchange didn’t go unnoticed—Sam Blakeman, Nick Tilsley’s son, overheard the conversation and seemed to piece together the truth.

Despite the brevity of his role, Aldersley’s performance left a mark. After filming his final scenes—whose air date remains unconfirmed as of January 27, 2026—he took to social media to share his gratitude: “Wow what an experience! Thank you Coronation Street for this amazing opportunity. It’s been a pleasure working with such an incredible team for the past couple of months! I’ll hopefully see you all, back on the cobbles again soon!”

Beth Nixon, who portrays the troubled Megan Walsh, has spoken candidly about the challenges of playing such a complex and controversial character. She described the initial experience as “super overwhelming,” especially during scenes in the iconic Rovers Return pub, surrounded by a bustling cast and crew. Yet, Nixon embraced the opportunity to dig into Megan’s psyche, exploring the motivations behind her manipulative behavior.

“She’s very calculated. Everything she does is for a reason, but she’s very good at hiding that,” Nixon explained in an interview with The Sun. “She’s very insecure, but again, she hides it. So she’s very confident and charismatic on the outside; she charms people, she makes people feel sorry for her, she makes people like her. She’s worming her way into this family; she’s almost like a parasite.”

Nixon was quick to point out that, as an actor, it was crucial to find the humanity in Megan. “She’s not a one-dimensional character. She’s not just this evil person. She has all these other things going on—all these life experiences she’s had, which have led her up to this point. The audience doesn’t know, the other characters don’t know, but she knows.” Nixon’s preparation for the role involved delving deep into the reasons behind Megan’s actions, portraying her as desperate for love and adoration—traits that would eventually be revealed as the storyline progressed.

The actor also revealed that she was given advance warning about the controversial nature of the plot before accepting the part. “My agent spoke to me and said, ‘This is a dark storyline. Are you comfortable playing it?’ And obviously, you do think about it before you say yes, but it’s such a complex character and such a deep storyline that, as an actor, it’s just a dream to play. Because it’s so gritty, and it’s a real-life issue as well.”

Nixon’s enthusiasm for the role was evident. She described the audition process as intense, involving chemistry tests with several actors considered for Will’s part. “I think I had a feeling because I’d never come for a recall or a chemistry test before; that was my first time doing that. And I guess third time lucky.”

Fans of Coronation Street have responded with a mix of shock, anger, and admiration for the show’s willingness to tackle such a sensitive subject. The grooming storyline has prompted difficult conversations both on and off screen, shining a light on the complexities of abuse, manipulation, and the long-term impact on victims. Some viewers have praised the soap for its unflinching portrayal of real-life issues, while others have questioned whether the storyline goes too far, fearing it may be triggering or exploitative.

As for Oscar Aldersley, his time on the cobbles may have been short, but his character’s involvement added crucial depth to the unfolding drama. His portrayal of Lee—a young man struggling with betrayal and heartbreak—offered a poignant counterpoint to Will’s denial and Megan’s duplicity. Aldersley’s exit marks a significant shift in the narrative, leaving fans to wonder how the remaining characters will cope as the truth about Megan’s actions comes to light.

With the final episodes featuring Aldersley yet to air, anticipation is high. Will justice catch up with Megan? Will Will Driscoll finally see his abuser for who she truly is? And what will become of the other students whose lives she’s upended? These are the questions viewers are left to ponder as Coronation Street continues its bold exploration of one of society’s most difficult topics.

For now, the cobbles are quieter without Lee, but the echoes of his story—and the pain it represents—linger on, reminding us that sometimes, even the brightest streets have their darkest corners.