I think Alison King is taking a sabbatical to do 'other projects' but is intending to return. Rumour has it that all is not well behinds the scenes with lots of the cast unhappy. They could well get rid of Tracey Barlow she is wearing very thin, in my opinion.
Or how about Maddie? The storyline lately has been Maddie and Sophie getting a place together and in the land of Corrie you can talk about it one day and have a flat to live in the next day! x