Coronation Street actress Tisha Merry QUITS after four years on the soap

Teenage Sharon first moved to Albert Square with her adoptive parents, Den and Angie Watts. She couldn't be more '80s in this photo if she tried.

Now a Mitchell, Sharon's hair is almost as big as the drama that surrounds her in the square. We're sad to see that she's shunned the pink in favour of all-black outfits these days.

Chain smoking, gossiping Dot Cotton first graced our screens when she started working at the square's launderette in 1985.

Today, Dot Cotton is a national treasure! Loyal to her hair rollers and lipstick until the end, her iconic soap-land look is still going strong.

Ian has rocked some retro looks over the last few decades (remember that moustache?!) but here he is as a teenager in 1985 who had great ambitions of being a caterer.

He's had a tough old life, what with wife Jane covering up for son Bobby who murdered daughter Lucy. No wonder he has a constant look of despair on his face.

Ahh, the angsty, brooding and balding brothers first hit our screens in 1990 wearing their mechanics overalls.

They may have even fewer hairs on their heads, but the Mitchell brothers are just as moody as ever.

Little trumpet playing, schoolgirl Sonya was part of the Jackson clan who joined the Square in 1993.

Sonia is back and all grown up! Unfortunately, she's left her trumpeting days behind her.

A tiny, troubled Jay Brown arrived in the square during 2006. Jay found a mentor in Billy Mitchell and Phil Mitchel who took him in after the murder of his father Jase.

Reformed Jay now considers himself a Mitchell and has the tough exterior to go with the name.

Whitney Dean rocked up to the square with her scraped back black hair and blinging earrings when step mum Bianca Jackson returned in 2008.

Sophisticated but always sassy, Whitney is still partial to the odd pair of gold earrings.

Kevin became the street's resident mechanic in 1983 and was the proud owner of one bushy 'tache!

Alas, our favourite moustache is no more. But Kev is rocking a silver fox beard instead.

Corner shop charmer Dev has wooed half the street's female residents since joining the soap in 1999.

Like the finest wine sold in his shop - this ladies' man seems to get better with age!

Toyah and Leanne Battersby were pretty much the street's answer to the Spice Girls, with their teenage girl power and so-'90s-it-hurts style.

Today the sisters are so refined and stylish that you'd never think they were the daughters of Les Battersby!

Who could EVER forget lovely little Chesney's face from when he was a youngster? Brother of Fiz and son of Cilla, all we wanted to do is give the poor lad a big hug.

Oh look at Chez all grown up! We still think he's got an adorable face and cannot believe that he is now a father to his own son, Joseph.

It took a while for boisterous Fiz to show her big heart while under the care of foster parents Hayley and Roy Cropper. She was just a teen in need of some family love when we met her in 2001.

We'd recognise that wild, red hair anywhere! Since giving birth to baby Hope, Fiz might have softened but she still likes to voice her opinion.

Woah, Ken Barlow was SUAVE right?! Ken was in the first ever episode and he's been hopping over the cobbles and breaking hearts for over 50 years!

Coronation Street just wouldn't be the same without this stalwart. He's probably been involved in more scandals than we've had hot dinners.

David's character was born on the show and we've watched him grow from butter-wouldn't-melt child, to problem teen, to reformed, loving father. Jack P Sheppard started playing David in 2000.

Today, David has grown up into a man with a beard and kids and everything - don't they just grow so fast?!

Cuddly Paddy Kirk arrived as the village's vet in 1997 and instantly fell for Mandy Dingle.

Fast forward 20 years and we're sad to see that Paddy has lost that seriously '90s curtains hairstyle. In fact, he doesn't have much hair at all!

Little Belle Dingle was the confident farm kid played by twins while we watched her grow up in the Dingle household. Eden Taylor-Draper has been playing her since 2005.

Now she's all grown up, Belle is very much a big character in the village.

Laurel first caught our attention when she dressed as a bumble bee for Marlon and Tricia's engagement party. It's probably one of the most memorable entrances in soap history!

Laurel still has a quirky style but we can confirm that her bumble bee days are well and truly behind her.

Eric started out in the village as a bit of a villainous character back in the 80s.

Still donning his famous white moustache, Eric came to be one half of the most hilarious soap couples to grace our screens with Val Lambert.

Bernice was the red headed barmaid who arrived in the village during 1998 and fell in love with the local vicar, Ashley Thomas.

Now mum to Gabby and Dee Dee, Bernice might be unlucky in love but she still has the fabulously bouncy red hair that we've always known her for.

Andy had a particularly difficult start in the village when he was fostered by Jack and Sarah Sugden as a teen.

Andy is now one of the villages (many!) countryside hunks.

Chas Dingle first came to the village when she dressed as a nun for cousin Marlon's stag night. Her fierce attitude soon secured her job as a no-nonsense barmaid at The Woolpack.

Blimey - Chas hasn't aged at all in the fifteen years she's been pulling pints! We want what she's using.

Here's Zac Dingle from when he first brought the Dingle clan to Emmerdale in 1994.

Is it just us or has he hardly changed at all? Even that hat looks must be the same one from they day he arrived in the Dales. The fresh country air must really work for the Dingles!

Tony has been in Hollyoaks since the first episode in 1995! Check out that floppy hair.

Tony has dated most of the village but it never seems to quite work out for him. But the place just wouldn't be the same without Tony, especially as he's the Oaks' resident chef.

Melting hearts across the country, Tom Cunningham was perhaps the cutest little soap star EVER.

For such a young lad, Tom has already has his fair share of grief and heartache (RIP Max and Steph). And can you believe our wee guy already has a baby with Peri Lomax?

Both Mandy and Gary had very troubled pasts, which might be what brought the beautiful pair together all those years ago.

They arrived back in the Oaks together last year, looking better than ever!

Nancy was the gobby punk who came to live with her teacher sister, Becca.

Nancy still enjoys experimenting with hair dye and make up, but we won't be seeing any more chunky highlights or green extensions (thank goodness!).

Ste Hay was the high-school bad boy who got fellow student Amy Barnes pregnant when she was an underage teen.

Still partial to the odd tracksuit, Ste is a total babe these days - although he definitely can't seem to shake off his habit of getting into trouble every week!