'Coronation Street' star Charlie Condou quit for the sake of his children.
The actor has two children Georgia, four, and two-year-old Hal with actress Catherine Kanter - via IVF treatment - and they split their time between their mother, and their father and his partner Cameron Laux.
Charlie - who plays midwife Marcus Dent - has admitted hearing his daughter tell him she didn't want him to make the commute from London to Manchester for work made him decide to quit the soap.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It was just getting too difficult. Georgia is at an age now where she was saying, 'How long are you away for this week?' And, 'When are you going to be back Daddy?'
"At my busiest I was getting home late on a Friday night and going back to Manchester on Sunday afternoon. I just wasn't getting that time with my kids."
And despite his departure, Charlie is glad to have been told that the door is open for a return to the soap if he changes his mind.
He added: "The producer said the door would be left open, so Marcus isn't going to be killed off. That's always a really nice thing to hear.
"I'm not under any illusions and saying I'm off to Hollywood. Obviously I want to do other things, but it's nice to know that I could go back in the future."

Sam Faiers has suggested it is time to move on from 'The Only Way Is Essex'.
The reality TV beauty will be part of the cast for the upcoming 11th series but insisted she has "done everything" on the show, and is looking ahead to other projects in 2014.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, she said: "I am coming back for the next series of 'TOWIE' but there's a lot going on for me this year. Over the last few series, I have felt I'm going round in circles.
"I've given so much - I've had an engagement, arguments, ups and downs, brought my family and friends on the show. I've done everything you can!"
While there is speculation the blonde star could be interesting in writing a novel following the success of her ghostwritten book 'Living Life The Essex Way', Sam admitted she would like to get her family involved in a show in a similar vein to 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians'.
She added: "There's a lot going on in our family and it's kind of similar to them.
"Billie would be Kourtney and her partner Greg would be Scott. I'd probably be Kim, as she's had a few boyfriends in the past. It all fits in."

Emma Watson is a qualified yoga instructor.
The 23-year-old actress is close to completing her degree in English Literature and is looking forward to using her free time to pursue some hobbies away from acting.
She said: "When I finish my degree, I will have a lot more time to pursue other passions, and I want to figure out what those will be.
"I love having something completely unrelated to the film industry. I want to find something that will let me use my brain in another way. I like connecting people who aren't part of that industry.
"I love painting. So maybe I hone in on that and do more art classes? Or maybe something different. I'm a board two certified qualified yoga instructor."
Emma also has some professional ambitions she hopes to fulfill.
She said: "I feel like I have so much more to accomplish as an actress. I'd love to try theatre, and that's a whole other thing, and I love to sing."
And the brunette beauty is confident her studies will help her in her career.
She told Wonderland magazine: "I've read just about every important classic in English history, which has been extremely handy.
"It's helped me think in an analytical way. It's helped me see the world from new perspectives. Diving into these stories and characters has given richness in my own life.
"And now, when I read scripts or look at stories, I have these references for a larger understanding of humanity, I'm sure it will make my job as an actress more interesting."

Ellen Page has come out as gay.
The 'Juno' actress made the announcement at Human Rights Campaign's Time to Thrive event in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday (14.02.14) and hopes being open will make a difference for people in a similar position.
She said: "I'm here today because I'm gay," Page said. "And because maybe I can make a difference - to help others have an easier and more hopeful time.
"Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility. I also do it selfishly, because I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out.
"My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain."
The 'Inception' star went on to describe love as "the most incredible gift to give".
She added: "I am young, yes, but what I have learned is that love, the beauty of it, the joy of it and yes, even the pain of it, is the most incredible gift to give and to receive as a human being.
"And we deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise."

Simon Cowell was worried he was going to miss his son's birth.
The 'X Factor' boss got a call from his partner Lauren Silverman to say their baby was on his way, and he faced a 15 hour journey to make it in time to be with her for Eric's arrival yesterday (14.02.14).
An insider told The Sun newspaper: "It was a very emotional experience for him - but his overwhelming emotion now is relief.
"He knows he was cutting it very fine to get back and wouldn't have forgiven himself if he had missed the birth. Obviously his number one priority at the moment is the health of his son and Lauren.
"He's so delighted that everything is OK. He's still getting his head around the fact that he's now a dad and has been texting family members and close friends."
Although he's typically calm and in control, Simon is said to have lost "his cool" when he received Lauren's call, but she "knows the signs" and gave him enough time to arrive by her side.
A friend said: "Simon was in shock when he got the call. It's not often he loses his cool but this was one of those times. Even though he didn't want to see the birth, there was no question that he'd wouldn't be at Lauren's side.
"She has had a difficult pregnancy so her health is his priority. This is Lauren's second baby so she knows the signs - she gave him as much time as humanly possible to get there.
"When he arrived in New York she was in the advanced stages of labour."

Harry Styles, Gary Barlow and James Corden enjoyed a break at Ian Fleming's old Goldeneye home.
The late author penned many of James Bond's spy adventures at the Jamaican property, and the British trio took the chance to have a relaxing few days before a busy month professionally.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, a source said: "The boys had a great time together - full of lots of laughs and all very chilled."
According to reports, the One Direction heart throb attended yoga classes during their warm weather break, although his famous friends opted out.
After their brief time away, the trio will now be jumping back into work, with the Take That singer continuing his work on the band's upcoming return.
Meanwhile, Harry and James will be looking ahead to the Brit Awards on Wednesday (19.02.14), which will mark the comedian's final time hosting the annual event.
While Goldeneye was where many of Ian's 007 tales were written, it was later bought by reggae icon Bob Marley, and is now owned by Island Records boss Chris Blackwell.

Matthew McConaughey was "floored" by his lines in 'Dallas Buyers Club'.
The actor lost 42lbs to play AIDS patient Ron Woodroof in the movie - for which he earned his first Best Actor Oscar nomination - and says when his character had to admit he was dying it had a profound effect on him.
He said: "My most surprising moment during filming was when Ron says, 'Look, I'm dying'. Saying that word, 'dying' floored me. To face that not as a concept, but as a reality."
The actor has come a long way in Hollywood, but he still has fond memories of working on his debut role in 'Dazed and Confused'.
He added to People magazine: "Summer of '92. I had the time of my life and got a $320 cheque every day, which was about six times more than I was making waiting tables at the Catfish Station [restaurant in Houston, Texas]."
Meanwhile, Jared Leto also stars in 'Dallas Buyers Club' as a transgender woman with AIDS and says the key to his role was understanding her humanity.
He said: "Finding her voice and walk helped, but it was really about finding a piece of her heart."

Ellie Goulding is taking her mother to the BRIT Awards.
The 27-year-old singer - who is nominated for British Female Solo Artist and British Single of the Year for both 'Burn' and 'I Need Your Love' - wants to make her mum Tracey "proud" and has invited her to attend the prestigious music ceremony on February 19 at London's O2 Arena, where she will also be performing.
She said: "My mum's coming to the ceremony so I want to make her proud. It's the first time she's been to anything in all the years I've been doing this. And my brother's coming too."
Ellie first won the Critics Choice trophy at the Brit Awards 2010 and confessed she didn't "acknowledge" the accolade because she was preoccupied worrying about gigs she had lined up.
Talking about her pre-Brits career, she told Radio Times magazine: "Things were trundling along for me. I was doing sporadic shows. I remember finding out about the Brit Award but being so stressed about rehearsing for this little tour I was doing. I was too anxious to even acknowledge I had won it."

Courteney Cox has asked her boyfriend to move in with her.
The former 'Friends' actress spent time away from Snow Patrol rocker Johnny McDaid - who currently resides in a guesthouse within the grounds of her home with friend Ed Sheeran - over the festive season and the break made her realise how much the musician means to her.
A source said: "Johnny went home to Ireland over the new year, while Courteney headed to Mexico with Jennifer Aniston.
"The time apart made her realise how serious she is about him and as soon as he got home she asked him to live with her. This is the happiest Courteney has been in a long time."
Courteney, 49, is particularly pleased with how well Johnny, 37, gets on with her nine-year-old daughter Coco, and her relationship has also been given the seal of approval by her former spouse David Arquette.
The source added: "What has really impressed Courteney is how good Johnny is with Coco.
"She didn't let any other men near her daughter but he's always out in their grounds playing sport with Coco and bonding with her.
"Also, David approves of him - they've met a few times and are even planning a dinner with David and his partner Christina. They're all comfortable around each other. Johnny doesn't feel at all awkward about it."
Courteney and Johnny - who have been dating since September - love nothing more than cosy nights at home.
The source told Britain's Grazia magazine: "He and Courteney's favourite date nights are staying in and watching movies - usually comedies - and Courteney makes up these buffets for them with a different theme each week.
"She's in such good spirits around him, she's so positive and it's the first time in years she's been truly content and not worrying about things all the time."

Ben Affleck tipped a waitress over $90 when he bought a cup of coffee.
The generous 'Argo' star was in a rush while in a coffee shop in Santa Monica, California, and left the waitress a huge tip when he realised he was only carrying $100 notes.
A source told National Enquirer magazine: "The clerk told him it was so early that she didn't have enough change in the register and could he wait while she went to the back office safe. But Ben told her, 'Don't bother - you keep the change.' She balked at first, but when Ben insisted, she said, 'Wow, that is so nice of you! My mom's visiting form Winsconsin, and I'll take her out to dinner with this.' "
As he departed, Ben told the stunned waitress: "Good, tell her I said Hi!"
Ben is not the only generous star in Hollywood. Rihanna has been known to tip a waiter $200 while George Clooney paid for a nearby table's dinner at a Berlin restaurant simply because he thought he and his friends were being too loud.
However, one of the most generous of all is Ellen DeGeneres, who upon hearing New Hampshire waitress Sarah Hoidahl had picked up the a $30 bill for two National Guard soldiers affected by the U.S. government's shutdown, presented her with a cheque for $10,000.

Neil Patrick Harris thinks moving to New York City will help his children's education.
The 'How I Met Your Mother' star and his fiancé David Burtka are relocating from Los Angeles to the East coast, and although the weather isn't as nice, he believes the move will ultimately be better for their three-year-old twins, Gideon and Harper.
Neil told Life and Style magazine: "When we're lugging two children through the snow and sleet and wind, I don't know whether we'll enjoy it so much. But I think the kids' eyes will be open to a lot of things that I wouldn't have thought to show them in Los Angeles."
Neil and David recently bought a $3.6 million, 8,000-square-foot townhouse in Harlem, which boasts four bedrooms, two terraces, a backyard and rooftop, as well as a duplex apartment underneath which they are expected to incorporate into their new home.
Neil, 40, is also hopeful David will be inspired to resume his acting career and join him in performing on Broadway.
He added: "We're very excited. David's done a lot of theatre, and then I sort of uprooted him to Los Angeles. I'm anxious for him to get to work more."

Duncan James wants to compete on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The Blue singer - who previously finished third on 'Dancing On Ice' in 2007 - is a big fan of the BBC One ballroom contest and would love the chance to embrace the glamorous outfits worn by the contestants.
He told Britain's OK! magazine: "I really want to do it this year. Fingers are crossed.
"Can't you just see me in one of those sequinned 'Strictly' shirts?"
Duncan isn't the only celebrity to express a desire to take part in the show this year.
Former 'X Factor' winner Joe McElderry has his sights set on the contest after recently winning Channel 4's Winter Olympics competition 'The Jump'.
He said: "I would love to do something like 'Strictly Come Dancing'. That would be so much fun. I'm a bit of a frustrated dancer, so that would be nice."
And Jack Osbourne has backed his mother Sharon - who is a judge on rival show 'The X Factor' - to take part, despite her previously turning down the show.
He said: "She's not afraid of Simon [Cowell]. I don't think she'd be bothered if she annoyed him by taking part in 'Strictly'. And she'd be great."