Coronation Street favourite Catherine Tyldesley's The Good Ship Murder exit details revealed ahead of Christmas special

Catherine Tyldesley is leaving The Good Ship Murder, with her character set to bow out of the 5 crime drama in its forthcoming Christmas special.

The former Coronation Street star (who played Eva Price in the ITV soap) has been in a starring role in The Good Ship Murder since the show launched, appearing as First Officer Kate Woods.

While the broadcaster previously confirmed that Tyldesley would only be back for one episode to mark Kate's final chapter on the ship, the exact details around her character's exit were not revealed.

Now The Sun claims that Kate will depart the cruise ship not through a grisly on-board murder but by taking a dream job elsewhere – an exit route that leaves the door open for a possible future return.

According to the report, producers had considered killing off Kate before settling on a less final farewell in what will no doubt be a tearful goodbye with Jack Grayling, the former detective turned ship's entertainer played by Shayne Ward.

The Good Ship Murder follows Grayling as he swaps policing for a singing career aboard a Mediterranean cruise liner, only to find himself drawn back into detective work when passengers and crew keep turning up dead.

Woods has been his key ally on board across the show's run, and the Tyldesley and Ward reunion brought together two former Coronation Street co-stars.

Speaking to Radio Times and other press previously about teaming up with Ward again, Tyldesley embraced the mischief of the pairing.

"We're the naughty kids at school that shouldn't be paired together," she said, adding that their friendship made the job easier. "When you're comfortable with the person that you're playing alongside, the difference is huge."

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Season 4, which is comprised of eight 60-minute episodes, will introduce a wave of guest stars as the ship sets sail once more to make up for Tyldesley's departure from the show.

Tyldesley's Good Ship Murder exit comes as the actress has settled back into life on the cobbles, with Tyldesley returning to Corrie last year after seven years away.

At the time of her return, she told Radio Times the soap comeback was "an absolute dream" and promised "fun, filled with love, laughter, quick wit and oodles of drama".

And it's certainly been dramatic, as Eva Price's return so far has seen her take over as landlady of the Rovers Return, help bring child abuser Megan Walsh to justice and suffer a horror fall after being knocked down the cellar steps.

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The Good Ship Murder airs on 5, with season 4 coming soon.

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Authors

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.