If this was EastEnders, the ‘duh, duh, duh duh, duh duh, duh duh” would definitely have sounded but it’s not so anyway… Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas has announced that he is leaving the cobbles, waving goodbye to the Rovers Return and saying cheerio to lots of drama. Ryan Thomas as Jason Grimshaw (image:ITV). The actor, who has played Jason Grimshaw since 2000, revealed the news this week, explaining: "It has been a great privilege to be in Coronation Street for the past 15 years. "The cast and crew are amongst the best in the business and to have had the chance to be a part of it for so long has been an amazing experience. "The decision to leave was an extremely difficult one but I felt that now was the right time to spread my wings and try other roles. "I'm just excited now to see what exit storyline the writers give Jason." He has starred in the soap for 15 years (image:ITV). The show’s producer Stuart Blackburn added: "Ryan has been an important part of Coronation Street for 15 years. We wish him every success when he moves on next year and we appreciate his desire to try new things. "In the coming months he'll be at the heart of a massive story, affecting not just his family but the Websters and the Windasses too which will take us well into 2016."