Corrie bosses forced to rewrite to cover Kym absence

'Coronation Street' bosses have been forced to overhaul Kym Marsh's storylines.

The 34-year-old actress - who is five months pregnant with her fiance Jamie Lomas' baby - has been advised by doctors to take early maternity leave from the ITV1 soap, causing scriptwriters to be challenged with making a whole host of last-minute changes to upcoming plots.

While Kym's alter-ego - soap siren Michelle Connor - was due to have a saucy affair with rich businessman Frank Foster (Andrew Lancel), her early departure from the cobbles will mean the character jets off to Ireland to spend time with her family.

A 'Coronation Street' insider told The Sun newspaper: "It's a massive shake-up and it opens up lots of ideas for exciting new plots."

Meanwhile, Maria Connor - played by Samia Smith - will step into Michelle's shoes and get involved in a juicy romance with Frank, before being poached from her job in the hair salon by recovering alcoholic Carla Connor (Alison King) to be her personal assistant.

Elsewhere, Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh) will be promoted to supervisor in the Underworld factory, while Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) will replace Janice Battersby - played by Vicky Entwistle, who is leaving the soap - after stealing £10,000 from her boss Owen Armstrong (Ian Puleston-Davies).

Kym - who has two children, David, 15, and 13-year-old Emily from a previous relationship - took early maternity leave as a precaution after losing her and Jamie's first child Archie in February 2009 when he was born 18 weeks premature.