Charlie Lawson has spoken out following the death of his beloved Coronation Street character Jim McDonald, which aired on Monday evening's episode of the ITV soap.
The 66-year-old actor posted a video message on social media, raising a glass of wine to mark the end of a role he portrayed for more than a decade.
"We had a great run and I'm very, very proud of the character we created," Mr Lawson told fans in the clip.
The Northern Irish performer suggested there were underlying reasons for his character's departure, stating: "There are many reasons, political ones and all the rest of it, which I shall answer over the next coming of time."
Charlie Lawson starred as Coronation Street's Jim McDonald
|ITV
He captioned the video: "Farewell to the only real man on The Street!"
The devastating news reached Steve McDonald just moments before his girlfriend Cassie Plummer was about to propose to him.
In scenes broadcast on Monday night, Steve received a phone call that would shatter his world before Cassie could pop the question.
"It was my dad's ex," Steve explained to his friend Tim. "He's dead. My dad's dead."
Charlie Lawson has broken his silence on his Coronation Street character's death
|PA
The timing proved particularly cruel, as Steve had recently chosen not to visit his father despite learning Jim was seriously ill in hospital.
Simon Gregson's character was subsequently seen drowning his sorrows at the Rovers Return, where he was comforted by Cassie, daughter Amy and ex-wife Tracy Barlow.
The grief-stricken taxi driver later clashed with pub landlord Ben Driscoll before breaking down upon realising he would never see his father again.
Viewers were quick to express their displeasure at how the legendary character's exit was handled, with many taking to social media to voice their frustration.
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Coronation Street's Steve McDonald found out about his dad Jim's death on Monday's episode
|ITV
One fan on Reddit described the death as "absolutely disgusting", arguing that Steve simply receiving a brief phone call was insufficient for such an iconic figure.
"He deserved so much better," the viewer wrote, adding that the show was being "disrespectful" to characters of Jim's status by discarding them "so flippantly".
Another commenter felt the scenes were rushed, suggesting the actor should have returned for one final appearance or that Steve should at least have visited his father, even if shown off-screen.
Jim McDonald first appeared on the world's longest-running television soap in 1989, becoming famous for his catchphrase "so it is" during his various stints until 2018.
Charlie Lawson shared his thoughts on the beloved Coronation Street character
|X
Mr Lawson had previously been critical of his character's final storyline, which saw Jim attempt to con his ex-wife Liz out of money by pretending his girlfriend was their deceased daughter.
"The storyline was weak. So many people contacted me to say they hated it," the actor said, adding that he agreed to it before seeing the script because the work was lucrative.
"Now he can't be ruined any more. He's out of his misery," Mr Lawson remarked.
However, Jim's death is set to trigger further drama on the cobbles, with reports confirming that Ben Driscoll will be revealed as Jim's secret son from an affair with Maggie.
A source indicated this twist will prove an even greater shock for Steve than losing his father, particularly given how close he has become to Ben.