Corrie writers to solve riddle of Linda as actress quits

Coronation Street fans are to find out what happened to Linda Baldwin later this year.

Actress Jacqueline Chadwick has confirmed she will not be returning to the soap.

Street bosses say scriptwriters are working on a fitting end to the character's storyline.

Fans were left guessing when Chadwick went on maternity leave last year. Mike Baldwin was accused of killing his fourth wife Linda just months after their wedding.

Since then, the actress has been keeping the scriptwriters in suspense as to whether she would ever return to the show following the birth of her second child, Jamie.

Now, Chadwick - who gave birth to 4lb Jamie five weeks early last October - says she will not be returning to the show.

The announcement leaves scriptwriters at the Street, which is locked in a ratings war with BBC's EastEnders, deciding on a gripping storyline to finish her off, probably some time in late spring or early summer.

In a statement Street bosses said: "Actress Jacqueline Chadwick has announced that she has decided not to return to Coronation Street following the birth of her second child.

"Everyone at the programme wishes her well for the future and the production team are now working on a fitting end to Linda's storyline."

A spokeswoman for Chadwick, who married husband Simon Chadwick following a whirlwind romance last year, said the actress had no comment to make.