Coronation Street actor Ciaran Griffiths, who played Damon Hay, has left the show after his two-year stint on the soap came to an end. The final scenes of this character had already been broadcast.
In a gripping climax, Damon visited Sarah in prison and decided to end their relationship to protect her family from further harm. During this emotional meeting, Damon tells Sarah: “I don’t want you to do that because I asked you here to tell you to your face, we’re finished. I’m doing you a massive favour. You turned my world upside down but if I loved you, properly loved you, I wouldn’t have done the stuff I’ve done. You’ve got to walk away. I’m sorry, it’s my decision. Goodbye Sarah.”
Despite his assertions suggesting the contrary, it seems clear that Damon is still deeply in love with Sarah. However, he believe that to ensure her safety, he needs to sever ties with her permanently and submit himself to imprisonment.
The conclusion of Damon’s storyline indicates a possible future return for the character as he leaves the door open. This was his second spell in the show where he had returned to seek vengeance against Adam Barlow and woo back Sarah.
Ciaran had shared in earlier comments that his character was eager to settle down on the street, but numerous obstacles hindered his plans.
“It’s what he wants but it depends what pressures he’s under or what he has to do to get by. He might want to settle down on the street, but it’s whether he’ll be allowed to settle down on the street with his brother looming over him and Adam on his back.
“I don’t think it’s ever going to be plain sailing for Damon. There’s always going to be someone who’s out to get him, whether it be Harvey or Adam,” he explained of his potential future on the ITV soap.
Damon has seemingly teased a potential return again one day, as the writers have brought him back twice already.
Asked why he thought the writers kept bringing him back, he added: “I think there’s a lot of mileage to him still, you want to see what happens with him and Sarah, you want to see what happens with him and Adam, especially after Adam did the dirty on him last time and forced him to do a runner. It will be interesting to see how that one plays out.”
He continued: “It’s also interesting to find out if he is going to keep up this good behaviour or if he’s going to crack and give in to the temptations of his past.
“He visits his half brother Harvey, who he hasn’t seen for years, last time Damon was on the street he had Harvey beaten up in prison, so there’s definitely mileage there to see will he get drawn in by Harvey’s criminal life again.”