Michael mention in this weeks Inside Soap-

We were heartbroken by the departure of David Wicks. Was it always the plan for him to leave?
Actually, when I arrived, both David and Carol were going to leave in January 2014. But I wasn’t going to let those two get away! So we came up with the story about Carol’s breast cancer, and Lindsey Coulson agreed to stay for it. Michael French then said he’d stay for an extra six months too. You don’t have Lindsey in the cast and not use her to her full potential – that’d be stupid!

Inside Soap 20th-26th September 2014