Coronation Street actor Charlie De Melo has said he will miss his exiting co-star Bhavna Limbachia.

Limbachia’s character Rana Habeeb was killed off in a dramatic factory fire on what was supposed to be her wedding day.

De Melo’s distraught character Imran Habeeb is consumed by the loss of his sister, fuelling further plotlines.

And the actor behind the upcoming obsessive, on-screen quest for answers is also sad to see his friend and co-star depart.

De Melo said of Limbachia’s decision to leave Coronation Street: “I’m very sad that Bhav’s gone, she was the first person I worked with here and we’ve always had a really good working relationship and a familial chemistry that I don’t think comes that easily.

TRIC Awards 50th Birthday – London
Bhavna Limbachia has departed Coronation Street. (Ian West/PA)

“We had that sibling bond from day one and it made the difficult scenes much easier to film, it was such a nice thing, to come into a job that was so alien to me. I’m really going to miss that but we are going to see a different Imran now and it’s a real challenge.”

De Melo has said that further plotlines will see his determined character seeking justice following the fire, believing there must be someone to blame.

He said another side of the character may come through as the grief begins to take its toll on Imran.

De Melo said: “When we’ve seen him in relationships, commanding a courtroom, expressing his anger, those things aren’t too exposing as an actor, but showing true devastation you really have to crack open your chest a bit and show what’s underneath to make it ring true.

“I’ve found it very nerve-wracking, I wanted to do a good job and do right by Bhavna and for the ripple effects of Rana’s death to continue.”