Coronation Street

It seems scenes already filmed will be going out as planned with his last appearance being Christmas Eve-looks like the writers have a headache on their hands rewriting Christmas Day and beyond then-

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-10-29/coronation-street-reveals-when-bruno-langleys-final-scenes-will-be-shown/

Well within the show a very obvious way to write him out considering they've got a serial killer within the family, but suspect it'll be less interesting than that.

The UK soaps almost always go for rewrites in this situation - if this was Neighbours or Home and Away they'd just do a head replacement and hope nobody notices.

"The thing is, Billy, I ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ɴᴏᴡ. Mʏ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛ ɴᴇᴇᴅs ᴍᴇ. "

Note: Todd died on his way back to his home planet.

We now see one of the problems of filming soaps weeks in advance of broadcast is this situation. Corrie will have to explain has absence if Christmas Eve he is there and then Christmas Day he vanishes.

Not really a problem - a benefit really. They'd be much greater difficulties with a shorter turn around in terms of rewrites and also publicity material.

He's gone to see Jason who has had an accident down under.

In fact reading on Corrie's history there was an equity strike with ITV during November 61-April 62 which prevented actors from signing new contracts- which means as contracts expired, numerous characters then suddenly disappeared (some to never return, even once the strike was over). At that point in time the week's episodes were recorded the previous Friday, so they had even less time to adjust scripts and none to re-record scenes.

Oof, nasty.

You assume he was meant to be on on Christmas Day. They may have filmed longer just that he doesn't appear after Christmas Eve.

He's been charged now:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41805130

OFCOM received 390 complaints about Friday's episodes: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-10-30/coronation-street-ofcom-receives-390-complaints-about-phelan-murder-drama/