A method of removing a ceramic coating from a ceramic coated metallic article, the metallic article having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a metallic bond coating and a ceramic coating on the metallic bond coating and the second portion having a metallic bond coating and a ceramic coating on the metallic bond coating, the ceramic coating on the second portion being less porous than the ceramic coating on the first portion, the method comprising the steps of: a) immersing the ceramic coated metallic article in a caustic solution of 46 to 54 % potassium hydroxide or a caustic solution of 46 to 54 % sodium hydroxide; b) maintaining the ceramic coated metallic article in the caustic solution at atmospheric pressure for a time equal to or less than one and a half hours at a temperature equal to or greater than 150 °C and equal to or less than 250 °C ; c) removing the ceramic coated metallic article from the caustic solution; d) rinsing the ceramic coated metallic article in water at ambient temperature; characterised in that the method further comprises the steps of; e) water jet blasting the first portion of the ceramic coated metallic article by directing water at the ceramic coating from a nozzle at a pressure of 275 to 296 MPa (40,000 to 43,000 psi), arranging the nozzle at a stand-off distance from the ceramic coating of 25 to 35 mm and traversing the nozzle over the first portion of the metallic article at a speed of 4 to 6 mm per second to remove the ceramic coating; and f) water jet blasting the second portion of the ceramic coated metallic article by directing water at the ceramic coating from a nozzle at a pressure of 275 to 296 MPa (40,000 to 43,000 psi), arranging the nozzle at a stand-off distance from the ceramic coating of 30 to 40 mm and traversing the nozzle over the second portion of the metallic article at a speed of 5 to 8 mm per second to remove the ceramic coating. a) immersing the ceramic coated metallic article in a caustic solution of 46 to 54 % potassium hydroxide or a caustic solution of 46 to 54 % sodium hydroxide; b) maintaining the ceramic coated metallic article in the caustic solution at atmospheric pressure for a time equal to or less than one and a half hours at a temperature equal to or greater than 150 °C and equal to or less than 250 °C ; c) removing the ceramic coated metallic article from the caustic solution; d) rinsing the ceramic coated metallic article in water at ambient temperature; characterised in that the method further comprises the steps of; e) water jet blasting the first portion of the ceramic coated metallic article by directing water at the ceramic coating from a nozzle at a pressure of 275 to 296 MPa (40,000 to 43,000 psi), arranging the nozzle at a stand-off distance from the ceramic coating of 25 to 35 mm and traversing the nozzle over the first portion of the metallic article at a speed of 4 to 6 mm per second to remove the ceramic coating; and f) water jet blasting the second portion of the ceramic coated metallic article by directing water at the ceramic coating from a nozzle at a pressure of 275 to 296 MPa (40,000 to 43,000 psi), arranging the nozzle at a stand-off distance from the ceramic coating of 30 to 40 mm and traversing the nozzle over the second portion of the metallic article at a speed of 5 to 8 mm per second to remove the ceramic coating. <EOS>