Coronation Street fans are in for a treat next month when a familiar face returns to the cobbles ahead of Eileen Grimshaw’s (Sue Cleaver) exit.
Sue is set to bid farewell to the ITV soap after 25 years in the coming months, and her exit storyline will see character Eileen reunite with none other than younger half-sister Julie Carp.
Actress Katy Cavanagh has already returned to filming, with Julie’s first appearance back on the cobbles set to air on February 21.
Katy first hit our screens as Julie in 2008, and remained a prominent figure on the cobbles until her exit in 2015.
Arriving after a brief holiday romance with Kirk Sutherland (Andy Whyment), she later set her sights on Jason Grimshaw before learning that Eileen was her half-sister.
Things grew tense between the sisters when Julie had a fling with Eileen’s boyfriend Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson).
In 2015, Julie headed off for pastures new with boyfriend Brian Packham (Peter Gunn), only for him to return to the street when they later broke up.
Speaking about her return to the Manchester-based soap, Katy said: ‘It is exciting to dust off Julie’s quirky wardrobe again and an absolute joy to step back onto the cobbles. Julie is so much fun, I’ve missed her.’
‘We’re delighted to have the inimitable Julie Carp back on the Cobbles,’ producer Kate Brooks added.
‘As the ever lovable Julie breezes back into the lives of the Grinshaws, not everything is quite as it seems, and Julie’s secret sets off a chain of events that has huge ramifications for Eileen.
‘Katy has slipped back into Julie’s shoes with such ease that it’s like she’s never been away, and we can’t wait for the audience to watch Julie’s story unfold; a story full of love, laughter and tears.’
Eileen and Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) are thrilled to see Julie back in Weatherfield, but what is it that’s brought her back – and how will Brian react to seeing her again?
