Will Corrie's Paul Kershaw be the next victim of the Rover's fire?

~SPOILERS AHOY! TURN BACK NOW!~

'Coronation Street's character Paul Kershaw is slated to be axed on the ITV soap, According to the Sunday Mirror.

The character played by Tony Hirst will leave the popular ITV soap later this year when his contract comes to an end.

What remains to be seen is whether Kershaw will become one of the characters killed in the Rovers fire.

A 'Corrie' spokesperson said: "It's a big year for the character of Paul. He will be at the centre of some explosive storylines which will culminate in a dramatic departure.”

The actor's character has been many dramatic storylines from the tram crash that marked the show's 50^th anniversary to his relationship with his on-screen wife who was suffering with Alzheimer's.

The actor rose to fame portraying character Mike Barnes on 'Hollyoaks' before leaving the soap in 2010.

Earlier this month, the show's official's stated:

"We can now exclusively reveal that more than one person could die in the blaze which will take hold of the Rovers next months?

"Will landlady Stella fall victim to the fire? Could it be barmaid Tina? Fireman Paul? Bad guy Karl? Sunita? Gloria? Eva? Toy boy Jason?

"No one is safe from the killer flames...”