CORRIE BLIMEY! Coronation Street star quits 26 years after joining soap – and his final scenes air tonight

CORONATION Street star Martin Hancock has quit the soap 26 years after making his first appearance.

The actor - who plays Spider Nugent in the ITV soap - returned last year after decades away as the former eco warrior.

Martin Hancock has quit Coronation Street - 26 years after joining

Viewers watched as he reunited with former lover Toyah Battersby in the aftermath of her husband Imran Habeeb’s tragic death.

However it soon emerged that Spider was hiding a huge secret.

He was revealed as an undercover police officer working within a far right gang and he successfully brought them down.

But this week a face from his past kidnapped Toyah and tried to murder them both.

The horrifying events saw Spider choose to remain a cop even though it meant losing Toyah.

In tonight’s episode of Coronation Street actor Martin will make his final appearance as Spider as he bows out from the soap.

But he’s hopeful that he could make another return one day.

Speaking to The Sun and other press, Martin said: “I’d like to think that Spider is leaving with unfinished business. “From chatting with people, I think there is some unfinished business but not immediately."

He added: "I've enjoyed coming back immensely. When I was younger, I was a bit too enamoured with the party scene! 

“It's nice to come back as an older and wiser person and really enjoy it for what it is, which is a great show with great people."

And he hopes to make another return for a wedding, adding: "Yes, of course! I said it the first time I left, then second time round, third time round and this is the fourth time round. 

“I love the show. It'd be nice for a Spider and Toyah wedding to happen at some point."