Andrew Lincoln expected to quit Walking Dead after eight seasons

He's been the star of the show for nearly a decade, but reports suggest that Andrew Lincoln could be walking away from The Walking Dead before the end of season nine, set to air next year. 

Lincoln, the English actor who plays former policeman-turned-survivor-leader Rick Grimes, has been locked into a contract with US network AMC to star in the show for more than eight years. But, website Collider reports, the actor and the network could cut ties to see Grimes leave The Walking Dead's post-apocalyptic wasteland before the end of season nine. The new series lead will be Norman Reedus, who is reported to have signed a $20m contract to continue playing Daryl.

Grimes will, Collider claims, be phased out of the show and will only appear in a handful of episodes in season nine. It is not clear how Lincoln's character will make his exit.

The award-winning Walking Dead has long been one of the most popular cable shows in America, and has often gone head-to-head with Game of Thrones as the world's most illegally downloaded television show.

However, in recent years it has become a victim of its own success. Actress Lauren Cohen, who plays Maggie on the show, was in discussions with the network over her contract and pay before confirming that she would return for season nine. It's now thought that Cohen will come back, but will possibly have less screen time. 

Chandler Riggs, who played Carl Grimes, the son of Rick who became a young, hardened survivor, caused upset among the fans when he left the show in the midst of season eight. It's likely that Lincoln's departure could have even greater impact.