Coronation Street fans stunned as Gary returns after going missing for months
Coronation Street builder Gary Windass vanished from the cobbles back in January and fans of the ITV soap have been concerned about the character and his whereabouts ever since
Gary Windass finally returned to the cobbles tonight(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street featured a surprise return tonight as bad boy builder Gary Windass (Mikey North) reappeared on the cobbles after months away from the soap. The character hasn’t been seen on screen since January, leaving fans puzzled by his sudden disappearance.
There had been no mention of where he’d gone, and not a single storyline to explain his absence. Even his on-screen partner Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) was noticeably absent from screens. But Gary finally made his long-awaited comeback to the cobbles tonight in a turn of events that has gotten viewers talking. The builder told Maria he is planning to sell his shop and buy the builder’s yard in an attempt at a fresh start. However, Maria isn’t convinced this is a good idea.
Coronation Street fans have reacted to Gary Windass reappearing on the soap tonight
She’s worried they can’t afford it and is even more concerned when Gary tells her he’s already taken advice from Mick Michaelis (Neil Bell). Mick, who is quickly becoming the show’s newest villain, encourages Gary to go ahead and take the risk.
The pair are later seen celebrating the move. Things only get worse between Maria and Gary when she discovers her partner has offered Mick a job at the yard.
The builder starts forming a close friendship with current soap villain Mick
She confronts Gary in a state of fury, warning him that Mick is nothing but trouble and could bring chaos into their lives. But Gary stands firm, insisting Mick deserves a chance and that he will make the business a success.
Maria isn’t convinced, and soon confronts Mick directly, making it clear he’s not welcome in the builder’s yard. But soon after their showdown, the situation takes a turn in Mick’s favour when Maria’s son Liam Connor is targeted by a group of lads.
As they harass him and snatch his phone, it is Mick who steps in. But what he does next remains to be seen – and it could change everything.
Shocked fans have have reacted to Gary’s return to the soap after months where the builder was nowhere to be seen. One viewer took to X, exclaiming: “GARY’S HERE TOO!? Did they finally find the key to the cupboard they’ve been keeping all these characters in?” Another gushed: “A rare Gary sighting!!” Meanwhile, someone else joked: “Gary Windass. I’d forgotten what he looked like.”
Many had previously shared confusion over his prolonged absence, with one fan posting: “Where is Gary Windass?” and another writing: “Gary & Maria have been AWOL for months.” A third asked: “Anyone know where Gary has gone??”
The unexplained disappearance sparked concerns that the character had quietly been written out of the ITV soap. However, after tonight it seems he is back in full swing.
This comes after Kit Green has been exposed for having a secret connection to Mick Michaelis. He is tasked with questioning the troublemaker after he starts a fight with Theo Silverton, but seems scared and can clearly be seen holding back while interviewing Mick about the assault.
Viewers have already been questioning if there is a link between Mick and Kit, and suspect the corrupt detective might be responsible for putting one of Mick’s relatives behind bars.