To me, Corrie could stand quite a big cull:
Sean - It baffles me he’s still there. He’s been a spare part for 10 years at least. Crucially, now Eileen has gone, he doesn’t even have that “like family to me” connection. He barely even showed any emotion at Billy’s death, yet they were a long-term couple. If they can’t utilise Sean then, when can they? I can only think Antony Cotton has serious dirt on someone very high up at ITV!
Izzy - Reduced to cameos, none of which add anything to the plot. Barely gets a scene with her own son now - never mind showing any interest in Joseph. The uncomfortable truth is that ITV do not want “disabled actor axed” headlines. But surely employing a disabled actor and giving them virtually nothing to do is way more damaging in terms of inclusivity?
Kirk - Seemingly kept on for comedy value, but there seems to be precious little comedy and even less value. Essentially drifting since Beth left (although in reality a spare part long before then); Craig is gone and little is made of his connection with Maria.
Chesney and Gemma - As many others have said, the quads story was a disaster. Someone put their finger on it the other day when they said Chesney was a good child actor who didn’t mature into a good adult actor. There’s an element of sentimentality behind keeping him on. Gemma, like Sean, has shown she’s not even valuable in other people’s stories (e.g, just sitting stuffing her face at her brother-in-law’s funeral). Worst of all, this family takes up one of the street’s original houses - it could be so much better utilised.
Brian - Another spare part. His seeming attraction to Mary has never gone anywhere; Julie’s death story was the last time he was of any use. Like Sean, you could drop him with zero impact on any other character. We never even see The Kabin anymore (which would have long since gone bust in reality).
Michael - The voice of reason/normality in his wider family’s storylines - but when did he last get anything to do in his own right? He suffers a bit from the fact that a lot of the stories you’d give to a single dad (would a new woman want to take on a child etc.) have already been given to Daniel.
Ed - Not a strong actor, and is going to suffer by comparison as Debbie’s dementia ramps up and Ronnie gets the good material. The writers don’t even seem interested in him.
Teetering, but salvageable:
Maria and Gary - The interesting thing about them as a couple was that they both essentially settled for second best. For the second time, a man only married Maria because she was pregnant, only for her to lose the baby. It was actually quite realistic when we used to see Maria worrying that she was a poor substitute for Sarah, but now Sarah has had a broken marriage without any sign she’d go after Gary, that story path seems pretty dead. Maybe if Maria met someone else and it was genuine love, and she had to choose between that and her established life?
Alya - A bit on the edge since Yasmeen went, but largely likeable and a seemingly good fit for Adam. Maybe something simple and relatable for them - e.g. one wants a baby and the other doesn’t?
James - Has played his part in two stories since returning, but there’s no obvious path at the moment. Could he turn out to be the nice potential new boyfriend for Todd in the Theo story?
Bethany - Done absolutely nothing of note since returning from London. Perhaps there has been an issue for the actress post-maternity leave? Either way, she needs a good plot - preferably one that does not involve another reunion with Daniel.