Michelle Keegan claims she will be "forever in debt" to 'Coronation Street'.
The 26-year-old actress, who has filmed her final scenes as barmaid Tina McIntyre, who will be murdered in the ITV soap in coming weeks, bid an emotional farewell to cast members and thanked fans on Twitter yesterday.
Today has been one of the most overwhelming days I've ever had. Thankyou SO much for everyone's tweets, messages and kind words...
— michelle keegan (@michkeegan) April 17, 2014
I'll be forever in debt to Coronation Street and ITV for giving me the role of Tina, I'm going to miss her, and everyone at Corrie...
— michelle keegan (@michkeegan) April 17, 2014
Michelle's most recent message says she'll never forget Tina:
Thank U for all the support over the last 6 n a half yrs. I'll always have a piece of Tina with me- It's inevitable I have her earrings! 😉 X
— michelle keegan (@michkeegan) April 17, 2014
The brunette beauty was greeted by dozens of fans who waited to meet the soap star as she left the set for the last time and she signed autographs and had photographs taken before getting into a car with fiancé Mark Wright, who drove her to a leaving party with fellow cast members.
Co-star Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully in the soap, was kept waiting and tweeted the couple: "In your own time."
He later posted a photograph of Michelle's leaving party, with the accompanying message: "Happy Days. Here's to your next adventure..."
Her character, Tina, is set to be killed off in dramatic scenes to air next month and details of her killer are being kept a secret.