Viewers were left “heartbroken” last night after one long-standing Coronation Street character made a dramatic exit.
Roy Cropper has left the cobbles.
The iconic, fan-favourite character – who is played by actor David Neilson – first arrived in the fictional Manchester-based town of Weatherfield all the way back in July 1995, and has been a mainstay on the popular soap for the past 26 years, but during last night’s episode, he decided to up sticks and leave.
Fans of the soap will know that in recent weeks, Roy has been struggling to come to terms with the fact that the gun Abi Franklin obtained to shoot Corey Brent was the same firearm used to kill Natasha Blakeman.
Abi was stopped from shooting Corey on the night of the sinkhole collapse by Roy, who then covered for the grieving mum when questioned by the police about the incident.
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But as viewers know, the gun ended up in the hands of crazed criminal Harvey Gaskell, who was intent on killing Leanne Battersby, but instead shot Natasha in a case of mistaken identity.
When Roy was informed by the police about the connection between the two investigations, he then became been unable to live with the guilt, believing he had a part to play in Natasha’s death, and with all his lies to the law building up, he decided to leave for South America.
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Viewers learned that the Roy’s Rolls cafe owner had found a job serving food to conservation workers.
Roy Cropper has left the Coronation Street cobbles after 26 years / Credit: ITV
Roy then got Adam Barlow to sign over his entire estate to his neice Nina Lucas.
He instructed Abi to sell the Woody, but when Nina – who was afraid that Roy was planning to take his own life – learned that he was preparing to leave and did everything in her power to stop him and convince him to stay.
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She gathered several of his nearest and dearest – including Fiz Stape, Cathy Matthews, and Carla Connor – to share tales of how Roy had helped him over the years.
But it wasn’t enough, as Roy was adamant that he could not stay in Weatherfield.
Nina tearfully tried one final time to stop him, but he said that the fact he’d even lied to Carla over a voicemail Nina left about Roy being in trouble was proof he had to go, and so he got in a taxi and headed off, leaving fans “heartbroken”.
Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper… for some reason
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has launched its latest Christmas creation, and this one’s arguably wackier than anything else it’s brought out before.
There’s absolutely no denying that pigs in blankets are a staple of festive feasting, with millions of the little delicacies consumed throughout the UK each Christmas, but have you ever wished you could turn the taste of those pigs in blankets into a lickable wrapping paper to wrap all this year’s gifts in? Yeah probably not… Aldi‘s made it though.
It’s anticipated that more than 561 million pigs in blankets are going to be eaten over the festive period, new research has found, which is an average of 10 per person.
But if you just can’t bare to leave the taste of pigs in blankets behind, Aldi’s new wrapping paper is set to give shoppers a fun and tasty twist when it comes to gift-giving.
The limited-edition wrapping paper is inspired by Aldi’s very-own range of pigs in blankets, and is described as capturing the smoky, savoury flavour and smell of the festive treat, with stickers that peel back to reveal a truly unique ‘lickable’ experience.
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper / Credit: Simon Jacobs/PA Wire (via Aldi UK)
Not only does the novelty wrapping paper taste and smells like pigs in blankets, it also looks the part on presents too with its pastel pink design, festive holly, and snowflake patterns.
“Pigs in Blankets are a highlight of the festive season… so we wanted to create something special to celebrate the Christmas classic,” commented Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, as the new creation launches.
“This unique, lickable wrapping paper is the perfect way to spread extra joy on Christmas Day.”
Want to get your hands on it then? Unfortunately, it won’t be as simple as popping to your nearest Aldi store and picking up a roll, as with a creation as unique as this, there’s only going to be limited stock and a special shopper competition to win it.
To be in with a chance of winning, you simply need to email [email protected] with your full name before the deadline at 11:59pm on 1 December.
Emily Sergeant -
25th November 2021 
