Coronation Street fans saw the arrival of new character Molly Kilduff in tonight’s episode as the daughter of Mick and Lou – but it’s not the star’s first taste of stardom
19:00, 21 May 2025Updated 19:45, 21 May 2025
Corrie newbie Molly Kilduff has a famous BGT sister (Image: ITV)
It’s been a dramatic few weeks in Coronation Street and it doesn’t look like things are slowing down anytime soon. In tonight’s episode, fans will be introduced to Mick and Lou Michaelis’ daughters Joanie and Shanice Michaelis, played by Molly Kilduff. Although it may be the youngster’s first time onscreen, it’s not her first taste of stardom. In fact, her sister is a huge Britain’s Got Talent star.
In tonight’s episode, the daughters are seen for the first time, despite having been mentioned many times previously. Making their entrance, their mother Lou tells them they’re going away for a bit. However, Tim takes them to A&E after seeing a cut on Lou’s head.
Last week, Molly’s sister Jade, who is part of BGT sign-language choir Sign Along With Us, took to Instagram to say how proud she was of her sister.
Molly’s sister Jade is part of BGT sign-language choir Sign Along With Us (Image: Jade Kilduff/Instagram)
The star, who appeared on the ITV talent show in 2020, shared a selfie of herself and Molly smiling outside the Rovers, which she captioned: “Could not be prouder of you Molly Moo !! Such a beautiful, funny, confident, talented and above all kind little girl. Shining bright on those cobbles like the star you are.”
Fans showed their support to the new actress in the comments, with one writing: “Ohh she’s adorable. Well done little superstar!” Another echoed: “She’s a little superstar.”
The group left a mark on the BGT judges as they were given a Golden Buzzer by former judge, David Walliams. The group, comprised of 69 members, came second in the competition, narrowly losing out to comedic pianist and singer Jon Courtenay – the first Golden Buzzer act to win the series.
Mick and Lou’s daughters made their debut in tonight’s episode(Image: ITV)
Jade was 18 at the time of entering, whereas her younger brother, Christian, who is also in the band, was just four years old. Jade had started the sign language class after teaching her younger brother who struggles with co-ordination due to his cerebral palsy.
Mick and Lou joined the soap earlier this year – but they won’t be staying long. In March, it was confirmed that the couple would be leaving the soap following the conclusion of a “major storyline” in Summer.
Breaking his silence on his exit so soon, Joe Layton, who plays Mick said: “I knew about it from when the casting came through from my agent, so even for the prep for the tape you take a dive into the psychology of him, how you inhabit these kind of head spaces. I think for me, the opportunity to step into Corrie for six months with a start and a finish point is a real gift.”
RYAN Thomas is set to make a comeback to Coronation Street for Sue Cleaver’s exit after almost a decade away – and now he has revealed the real reason why.
The actor-turned-reality-star played builder Jason in the ITV soap from 2000 until leaving in 2016.
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Eileen Grimshaw, played by Sue Cleaver, with Ryan Thomas as Jason GrimshawCredit: Rex Features
Ryan says he wanted to pay the soap that made him famous back.
He said: “It was a mix of nostalgia and gratitude for what the show has done for me. When they told me Eileen was leaving, it felt right to be a part of that storyline for her and revisit where it all started.”
Jason has barely changed since the last time he was on the cobbles.
Actor Ryan says he’s “still that happy-go-lucky, lovable guy” – who is set for a romantic twist in his upcoming scenes.
Ryan said: “He makes it up as he goes along, has a loving heart, and is all about family,.
“He certainly hasn’t changed when it comes to women, straight away he is taking someone back home with him and getting himself into hot water with his brother.
“He’s struggling for money, his girlfriend left him, and he needs his mum.
He says he’s come back for Eileen, but he really needs a cuddle and his safety net.”
The 40-year-old actor is returning to the ITV soap as Jason Grimshaw after nine years away, while Carole Anne Ford has also made her Doctor Who after 32 years – but they are not the only stars who reprised their roles after a long time away
Jason Grimshaw is heading back to Coronation Street(Image: ITV)
Ryan Thomas will be back on our screens in Corrie tonight as he returns to play Jason Grimshaw for the first time in nine years tonight. But that’s nothing compared to the time some other stars have spent away from iconic roles – before getting back into character once more.
On Saturday, Carole Ann Ford returned to Doctor Who 32 years after she was last seen on screen as the Time Lord’s granddaughter, Susan Foreman.
Ryan, 40, said he thought he’d never return to the soap but that “it felt right” for co-star and close friend Sue Cleaver’s emotional exit. Sue will bow out as Jason’s mother Eileen Grimshaw after more than 20 years in the role in upcoming episodes.
Carol Ann Ford (far right) inside the tardis(Image: BBC)
Meanwhile Carole, AKA Susan Foreman, was the Doctor’s very first companion, boarding the TARDIS alongside Hartnell’s First Doctor, before departing the show in 1964. She claims was “fan power” that brought her back, saying: “I think fans have been saying, ‘Where is she? What’s happening other than her? Are we going to see her again?’
On how the Doctor Who set compares to the rather more quaint version back in the 1960s, she adds, “This is like a universe of its own. It’s stunning. I feel very honoured to be here.”
But they’re not the only stars of TV and films who reprised their roles after a very long time away. Here are some of the others…
David Tennant (The Doctor in Doctor Who) – 13 YEARS
Tennant’s run as the 10th Doctor from 2005 to 2010 is the stuff of sci-fi legend. With his skinny suits, wild hair, and “Allons-y!” catchphrase, he quickly became a fan favourite – so much so, that his departure in a tear-streaked Christmas special left the nation heartbroken.
Tennant returned to Doctor Who alongside Catherine Tate(Image:
BBC
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Fast forward to 2023, and Tennant – by then a huge star of stage and screen – stunned audiences by returning – not just for a cameo, but as the 14th Doctor, alongside Catherine Tate. It was a fan-pleasing twist for the 60th anniversary, mixing nostalgia with fresh Time Lord chaos.
Tony Adams was a fan favourite in Crossroads as smooth-talking businessman Adam Chance, first appearing in the original run of the motel-set soap back in 1978. Known for his charm, affairs, and ever-changing fortunes, he stayed with the series until its 1981 cancellation, leaving behind a legacy of big collars and bigger drama.
Tony Adams and Jane Rossington in a scene from the television programme Crossroads (Image: PA)
In a move that delighted loyal viewers, Adams returned to Crossroads in 2002 when ITV revived the show after more than two decades off air. Picking up where he left off, Adam Chance was once again stirring the pot in King’s Oak, but was later killed off in a fire. Tony, now aged 84, went on to star in the West End stage version of Chitty Chatty Bang Bang as Grandpa Potts.
Paul Bradley (Nigel Bates in EastEnders) – 26 YEARS
Back in the ‘90s, Paul Bradley’s Nigel Bates was the lovable oddball of Albert Square—soft-spoken, cardigan-clad, and endlessly unlucky in love. A single dad with a heart of gold, Nigel brought warmth and awkward charm to even the grittiest EastEnders storylines. When he left Walford in 1998 to start a new life with girlfriend Julie, fans were sad but glad to see the gentle soul get a happy ending.
Nigel Bates became one of EastEnders’ best-loved characters(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Paul went on to firmly establish another much-loved character, playing heart surgeon Elliot Hope in Holly City from 2005 to 2015. Then, in 2024, and after 26 years away, Nigel made an emotional return for Dot Cotton’s funeral, thrilling fans with his brief return.
David Hasselhoff (Michael Knight in Knight Rider) – 22 YEARS
In the 1980s, David Hasselhoff was the epitome of cool as Michael Knight – the leather-jacketed crime fighter with a talking car. Knight Rider became a cult classic and turned The Hoff into a global icon.
After the series ended in 1986, his career soared: he patrolled the beaches as Mitch Buchanan in Baywatch, starred in films like Dodgeball and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, and even became a chart-topping pop star in Germany.
Knight Rider turbo-boosted Hasselhof’s career(Image: NBC via Getty Images)
Hasselhoff returned to the driver’s seat in 1991 for Knight Rider 2000, a futuristic TV movie sequel. Then, in 2008, he delighted fans once more with a cameo in NBC’s short-lived Knight Rider reboot, which pulled in over 10 million viewers. He also lent his voice to KITT again for a video game.
David Jason (Granville in Open All Hours) – 29 YEARS
David Jason was the shy, long-suffering shop assistant Granville in Open All Hours, working under the tight-fisted Arkwright, played by Ronnie Barker. The show became a British sitcom classic during its original run from 1973 to 1985, with Jason’s quiet charm and comic timing helping it win generations of fans.
David Jason’s Still Open All Hours ran for six series(Image: PA)
Nearly 30 years later, Jason returned to the corner shop in Still Open All Hours, this time as the owner – older, grumpier, and very much following in his uncle’s penny-pinching footsteps. The reboot aired in 2014 and ran for six series.
Sir Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek) – 26 YEARS
Sir Patrick played Jean-Luc Picard, the commanding officer of the Federation starship USS Enterprise, in 178 episodes of the sci-fi television series between 1987 and 1994, and in four feature films. He went on to star in countless movies, TV dramas and stage shows, including Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise.
Sir Patrick Stewart made an epic comeback(Image: CBS)
But in 2020 the veteran actor boldly went back to where he had been before, reprising the role of Picard in Star Trek: Picard. Delighting fans with the news, he said: “When we wrapped that final movie in the spring of 2002, I truly felt my time with Star Trek had run its natural course.
“It is an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions with him.”
Bonnie Langford (Mel Bush in Doctor Who) – 36 YEARS
Bonnie Langford first joined Doctor Who in 1986 as Mel Bush, the bright and bubbly companion to the 6th and 7th Doctors. Known for her upbeat energy and iconic scream, she left the TARDIS in 1987, going on to forge a hugely successful stage and TV career, including a memorable stint in EastEnders and acclaimed turns in the West End.
Bonnie Langford alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor Who(Image: James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios)
Three decades later, Bonnie surprised fans by stepping back into Mel’s shoes for The Power of the Doctor in 2022, later explaining she was sent a script “out of the blue” by Russell T Davies with an offer to return. And this year she made a second comeback, and is currently playing Mel again alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor in the new series.
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This Coronation Street star turned a few heads after he was spotted at this year’s film festival – not least the hordes of Corrie fans who have yearned for his return to the cobbles
Ryan Prescott made a beeline for this year’s Cannes Film Festival(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Coronation Street fans were left stunned as one of the soap’s beloved actors swapped the Weatherfield cobbles for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Ryan Prescott, who is best known for playing Ryan Connor, was recently spotted on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.
Despite not revealing why he was attending the star-studded event, fans confessed they’ve “missed” seeing the 36-year-old on their TV screens recently, but agreed he looked fantastic mingling with the celebs. Ryan, who has also had stints in Emmerdale and Doctors, looked incredibly smart in a black suit and bow tie, posing with friends and soaking up the atmosphere of the annual festival, which runs until May 24.
Sharing snaps on Instagram, he simply captioned them: “CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2025.” Fans were quick to compliment the actor’s appearance after the photos were posted.
One fan commented: “Miss you when you’re not in Corrie but pleased you are having an amazing time,” while another added: “Looks like you are having a great time! You also clean up nice!”
A third chimed in: “Chuffed for you,” while a fourth fan remarked: “Looking dapper my brother.”
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How Ryan managed to secure a spot at the exclusive event remains a mystery. As one would expect, the Cannes Film Festival is typically reserved for film industry professionals and accredited participants.
The festival is now an exclusive affair with restricted access, necessitating a badge for entry, keeping most of the festivities out of reach for the average Joe. This year’s event launched with much fanfare on May 13 and will run this Saturday, drawing in A-listers such as Nicole Kidman and Amal Clooney.
Meanwhile, Ryan’s entrance to Coronation Street came in 2018 when he became the much-loved Ryan Connor, stepping into Sol Heras’s shoes as the third actor to take up the role.
Despite his character’s on-screen drama, Ryan’s off-screen life is seemingly tranquil. The Merseyside-born actor made waves when he appeared in Emmerdale as Flynn Buchanan – Aaron Dingle’s romantic pursuit – before gracing the streets of Weatherfield.
Ryan has now spent seven years at Weatherfield(Image: ITV)
Scoring the part was Ryan’s career milestone, leaving him initially gobsmacked by the limelight, even leading to fans hounding him for autographs post his stint in the ITV soap which lasted for 12 episodes.
Before hitting it big on the cobbles, Ryan secured parts in well-known shows such as Holby City, The Syndicate, Doctors and Casualty. But success didn’t come easy, as he encountered obstacles along the path to fame.
Confirming his Corrie gig opened the floodgates of online vitriol, with Ryan recounting to The Mirror: “I’ve had a few… you always get the occasional Facebook message. There’s always haters out there. Nothing too crazy but people give their opinion.
“Someone will say something like ‘I much preferred the other Ryan’, or something like that. I never reply. That’s where people go wrong.”
Aside from his TV appearances, the actor is quite the globe-trotter, frequently sharing snaps on Instagram from his globetrotting adventures. His passport boasts stamps from Thailand, Amsterdam, Monaco, and a significant part of the United States – yet he always finds his way back to his roots in the north of England.
EXCLUSIVE: Coronation Street actress Farrel Hegarty has opened up about her storyline on the ITV soap opera and admits she hopes it enables women to speak up
Coronation Street actress Farrel Hegarty has opened up about the importance of her ongoing storyline
Poised to emigrate to Australia before she landed her Corrie role as neighbour-from-hell Lou Michaelis, actress Farrel Hegarty is already being likened to hellraising battleaxe Janice Battersby. Flattered by the comparison, there is no such thing as being too gobby, according to Yorkshire-born Farrel.
She tells The Mirror: “Lou is gobby, loud, irrational and it’s lovely to be compared to such a big character, like Janice Battersby. You always dream of landing a part like Lou. So to get it later in life, is overwhelming and I cried. I was so happy.”
At 37, Farrel will not be considered to be “later in life” by many of us, but age is an issue in the acting profession. “Working as a jobbing actress can be hard,” explains Farrel. “There were 50 people in my year at drama school 15 years ago and when we recently counted how many were still acting, it was only seven.”
When the Corrie audition came, she was about to leave her home in London to move Down Under and live with her girlfriend of 18 months. She says: “I was about to move to Australia to move in with my partner and the audition came up. Either way, my life was about to go in a different direction, as I knew I’d either be going to Australia or joining Coronation Street.
Farrel almost had a completely different life before her Coronation Street audition
“I knew if I got the role, then it was my time. Having a long-distance relationship is definitely not for the faint-hearted but my partner was never going to be angry that I was going to be in Corrie. She knows how much it meant to me and how tough it has been.”
The moment Lou, her husband Mick Michaelis (Joe Layton) and their son Brody (Ryan Mulvey) arrived on the cobbles, they began wreaking havoc.
For Chesney and Gemma, they have become nightmare neighbours, while thug Mick has bullied Leo, battered his stepdad Gary and is tormenting bent copper Kit with threats to reveal his bad boy past, when they were both delinquent teenagers.
And Farrel is at pains to point out that, while she loves playing her, she is nothing like Lou in real life. She says: “Lou loves an insult. She’s called people a cow, bimbo and witch and sometimes I find myself going ‘take a minute, Lou’ when I read the scripts.
“I am obviously nothing like her and the only thing we do have in common, other than being close to family, is we have the same face!” So far, despite Mick’s thuggery, there has been no indication of any aggression towards Lou.
But in tonight’s episode, it will be revealed that he has been abusing her physically and mentally. Bombshell revelations in Friday’s episode lifted the lid on Lou and Kit’s affair years earlier, which cast doubt on whether the policeman or Mick was Brody’s dad.
And when Brody is caught shoplifting, enraged Mick makes his feelings clear with viewers seeing Lou taken to A&E with a head wound by Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) . There is no doubt who caused it, yet Lou is besotted with Mick. “She is so infatuated and in love with Mick that she is willing to overlook things,” explains Farrel.
Tim took Lou to the hospital after noticing a cut on her head
“She loves him so much that when he is being scary, she soon forgets it when he tells her an hour later how sorry he is and how much he loves her. The fear disappears.”
Farrel says the hard-hitting storyline is an important one: “We want women in horrendous situations like this to realise they aren’t alone and to also show it’s not always (happening to) the person you might expect.
“Yes Lou is loud and gobby and you wouldn’t expect this to happen to her, but there is a vulnerable side to her too. Mick is all she has ever known and her love for him will always outdo everything.”
Farrel won’t divulge whether Lou will leave Mick, but she says her relationship with Brody becomes strained, now he has found Kit may be his real dad.
“Lou sees the best in Brody, but he’s turning into Mick,” she reveals. “But, to be fair, Brody has had a hard life and to discover his life may have been a lie is bound to test a relationship.” Farrel says Joe is a joy to work with: “He is the opposite of Mick, such a lovely human and the most caring man. ”
Farrel explained she and soap bosses hope women in situations similar to her characters will realise they’re not alone
Knowing the destruction unleashed on Weatherfield by the Michaelises would be short-lived, as their Coronation Street contracts were finite, Lou plans to make the most of every second.
Due to depart in the summer, she says: “I’ve loved it all and even now, a few months in, it’s surreal walking on the cobbles. So much has happened in such a short time, and we’ve caused chaos. I’ve never had so many arguments!
“To get this role is a dream come true, but I always knew I would one day be leaving. Joe and I came in together and will leave together. How we do it, I can’t say, but it’s brilliant being part of the show. Watching the other actors is like a masterclass in acting. When I do film my final scenes, I’ll probably cry.”
After leaving East 15 acting school in Essex 15 years ago, Farrel has had small roles in Brassic and Johnny Vegas’ Murder They Hope, as well as creating comedy content on TikTok and appearing in Corrie in 2019, as a reporter looking into Robert Preston’s shooting.
Between roles, she has sometimes taken temporary office jobs. “It’s hard going to auditions, but when you get a part like Lou, it’s an incredible feeling.”
Her dream now is to land a role in a sitcom. “I enjoy doing silly skits,” says Farrel, who plans to go to Australia first. “I will need a holiday by then. It will be great to see my partner too.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline 24/7 on 0808 2000247.
Coronation Street airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8pm on ITV1. Also on ITVX.
At the time, he revealed on Mancs on the Mic: “It’s hard for me. I started off acting, I started off in that game and I really lost the bug for it.
Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025
ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.
This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.
Colson Smith – Craig Tinker
The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.
Sue Cleaver – Eileen Grimshaw
After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I’m A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she’s already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.
The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she’s hungry to see what other opportunities await.
Coronation Street’s Ryan Thomas has teased that his character Jason Grimshaw may look and seem a little different to how he was on the ITV soap prior to his 2016 exit
21:15, 18 May 2025Updated 21:18, 18 May 2025
Coronation Street’s Ryan Thomas has teased that his character Jason Grimshaw may look and seem a little different(Image: ITV)
Jason Grimshaw is heading back to Coronation Street very soon, but actor Ryan Thomas has hinted he might seem a little different to how fans remember him.
Not only will he look a little different with it being clear he’s transformed his life, after starting afresh in Thailand, but Ryan teased his soap alter ego will be much more mature, “in a different phase of his life”. But fear not, as we will still see plenty of the old Jason we know and love.
Not only that, but actor Ryan has teased there could be a shocking romance in store for the character during his time on the cobbles. While he heads back to the show for his mother Eileen Grimshaw, ahead of her departure from the ITV soap, he wastes no time in getting familiar with a mystery lady.
Ryan has teased he’s causing trouble from the moment he arrives, and that there’s steamy scenes ahead – while he didn’t specify whether it was a known character or a guest role. He teased: “Jason is still that happy-go-lucky, lovable guy. He makes it up as he goes along, has a loving heart, and is all about family.
Ryan has teased there could be a shocking romance in store for the character(Image: ITV)
“And he certainly hasn’t changed when it comes to women, straight away he is taking someone back home with him and getting himself into hot water with his brother!” We will see a different side to the character though, as he bursts back onto screens nine years after his exit.
Jason headed off into the sunset back in 2016 after a troubling time and the loss of his father, who was framed for the murder of Callum Logan. Since then he’s grown up a lot, with Ryan hinting at the changes to the character.
He teased: “He’s embraced the Thai way of life. I really wanted to come back in the builder’s outfit, but it made sense that he’s in a different phase of his life now. He is all linen trousers and bracelets and beads. It gives you a feel of this older Jason whose life is now away from the cobbles.”
But changes or not, Weatherfield is still his home and during a tough time for Jason it’s still his mother Eileen he needs for support. Ryan said: “He’s struggling for money, his girlfriend left him, and he needs his mum. He says he’s come back for Eileen, but he really needs a cuddle and his safety net.”
Jason Grimshaw is heading back to Coronation Street very soon(Image: ITV)
Ryan agreed to return to the show after nearly 10 years away for one key reason. Eileen actress Sue Cleaver begged her onscreen son and close friend to come back for her final storyline and he agreed.
Explaining the decision he revealed: “It was a mix of nostalgia and gratitude for what the show has done for me.
“When they told me Eileen was leaving, it felt right to be a part of that storyline for her and revisit where it all started.”
He added: “I have no regrets. It’s been the perfect storyline and a real memory I can cherish. It felt like the old days, we’ve all been in the canteen, having lunch together and I had real fun.”
During the programme’s original run on Channel 4 from 2005 to 2016, the executive producer and the banker turned out to be the same person
Deal or No Deal’s mystery banker revealed as iconic Coronation Street actor(Image: ITV)
The identity of Deal or No Deal’s mystery banker was a secret for many years before it was revealed that they were actually a huge Coronation Street star. During the programme’s original run on Channel 4 from 2005 to 2016, the executive producer and the banker turned out to be the same person.
Deal or No Deal’s banker turned out to be Glenn Hugill, who is best known for his role as Alan McKenna on Coronation Street from 1996 to 1997. The star appeared in 86 episodes of the show as he took on the role of detective Alan, who dated Fiona Middleton and was meant to marry her.
Glenn was best known for his role as Alan McKenna on Coronation Street from 1996 to 1997(Image: Granada Television)
However, their wedding ceremony was called off when Jim McDonald revealed his affair with Fiona, and Alan soon departed the cobbles. The actor also appeared in shows like Dalziel and Pascoe, The Upper Hand and Chandler & Co. In 2001, he took on a presenter role for the 2001 series The Mole.
In early 2023, Glenn sold his production company, Possessed, to ITV and became C.C.O. of Wheelhouse, the media empire founded by American talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. He was previously the managing director of the company, which quickly became one of the most successful production companies in the UK.
When he was 10 years old, Glenn scored a 207 in a national IQ test designed for under 16s, which was the highest recorded result in the country.
It is not known who the current banker is (Image: ITV)
Local newspaperThe Northern Echoonce reported he took another test made for adults and recorded a result of 177, the highest score the test was capable of registering.
Glenn is said to have held the role of banker on Deal or No Deal for a decade, but it isn’t known who replaced him for the new ITV version hosted by Stephen Mulhern.
Stephen previously said: “I don’t know who the Banker is. So I wouldn’t be able to recognise who it was. So, he could walk past me at any point.”
The voice on the phone is “male” but Stephen added: “Supposedly, he goes into the hotel and listens to the contestants and what they’re up to. So when he comes on the phone to me, I’ve got to repeat what he says.
“So, he’ll say, ‘Just tell them blah, blah, blah, blah, blah’. But he gives him nicknames. So like, ‘Two Wine Wendy,’ because she’s always having an extra wine. It’s quite creepy.
“That first time the phone rang, it was like, ‘What’s he going to sound like? What’s he going to be like?’ But he takes no prisoners. There’s one contestant in particular who has a really bad ride and a really bad time, and at the end of it, the contestant is nearly in tears, and the phone rings.
“I’m thinking ‘Okay, he’s going to at least console a tiny bit’. And he went, ‘Just tell him it’s not a pity party. Let’s crack on with tomorrow,’ and put the phone down.”
Coronation Street has released a clip of the aftermath of a deadly assault on PC Craig Tinker who is covered in blood and barely alive, cradled by distressed neighbour Maria Connor
00:01, 17 May 2025Updated 00:01, 17 May 2025
There’s heartbreaking scenes ahead on Coronation Street as Craig Tinker exits the ITV soap, and a horrifying new clip reveals just how gruesome the episodes will be.
A first look clip shows the moment an ambulance races to the scene to save the injured police officer, whose life is hanging in the balance. Craig is left blood-soaked and beaten, left to die after a violent assault.
He’s found by his distressed neighbour and family friend Maria Connor who desperately calls for help, while cradling the dying character in her arms. She urges him to stay awake in the heartbreaking clip, with blood seen pouring from his head, face and his ear.
Craig is incoherent and barely moving, while he attempts to tell paramedic Asha Alahan what happened to him. Suddenly he begins to lose consciousness, unable to keep his eyes open as he deteriorates.
Asha shouts out to her colleague to get oxygen for her injured friend, as she begs him to stay awake not wanting to lose him. Soon Maria is comforted by Sarah Platt, and the two women are left in tears over the horrific site of Craig’s injures, with it clear he’s in a bad way.
There’s heartbreaking scenes ahead on Coronation Street as Craig Tinker exits the ITV soap(Image: ITV)
Spoilers have revealed that Craig is rushed to hospital, with it confirmed he is left in intensive care with swelling on his brain. Just as Craig wakes up and tries to communicate what happened there’s horror, as he takes a turn for the worse.
Doctors rush in as he deteriorates, while Craig’s attack sends shockwaves across the whole street. Craig’s fate is being kept under wraps, while it has been confirmed the character is leaving the show.
Next week his final episodes will air, with actor Colson Smith bowing out of the role. It had been reported weeks ago that Craig would be killed off in heartbreaking scenes, while nothing has been confirmed by the show.
With it revealed that this is Craig’s final storyline and his “final fight”, will tragedy see the police officer lose his life? In a trailer released by the soap, his colleague DS Lisa Swain is heard emotionally saying: “If we knew today was our last day on earth, what would we do differently?” She chillingly adds: “There isn’t always more time.”
He’s found by his distressed neighbour and family friend Maria Connor who desperately calls for help(Image: ITV)
Colson shared his excitement over the episodes, saying: “I can’t wait for people to see Craig’s final scenes. It is exactly the exit I wanted for him and we are all really proud of what we filmed in those final weeks.
“It was actually great fun. I was walking around covered in fake blood for days and I was chuffed that I got to work with so many brilliant people in this final storyline.”
The actor had revealed earlier this year he was leaving the show after being axed. He posted online: “Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinker’s time on the Cobbles is to come to an end in 2025. I’ve LOVED every single second of my 14 year stay as a resident on the greatest street in the world.”
Coronation Street’s Kit Green makes a shocking discovery next week on the ITV soap that paves the way for deadly scenes on the ITV soap involving villain Mick Michaelis
00:01, 17 May 2025Updated 00:01, 17 May 2025
There’s a jaw-dropping moment for one Coronation Street character next week and it could change everything.
Kit Green will feature in a life-changing twist, with a discovery leading to some deadly scenes on the ITV soap. One moment in upcoming episodes, following a flashback special, will see Kit uncover something truly shocking.
As he considers what he’s discovered he’s warned off, but it seems he might let slip something leading to an explosive set of episodes. A new spoiler video reveals the moment when Kit comes face-to-face with a new character, only for him to realise he shares a link with them.
Something the character says rings alarm bells for Kit who literally stops in his tracks, and the penny seems to drop. With that he has one question, before he’s told something that possibly backs up what he thinks he’s uncovered.
In the clip Kit pins Brody Michaelis up against a wall after he steals from the corner shop, where Kit’s mother Bernie Winter works. Given Kit asks for Brody’s name in the scene, it hints Kit is unaware he is the son of Lou and Mick Michaelis – while he did see him with the pair last week.
Coronation Street’s Kit Green makes a shocking discovery next week(Image: ITV)
All has just been revealed about Mick and Lou’s past with Kit, with the trio being friends when they were teens. It all fell apart though, as revealed in Friday’s flashback episode, when Mick was sent to prison for a crime Kit was involved in.
Mick took the fall and Kit soon fled, never seeing Mick or Lou again until now. Kit also realised Lou and Mick had a son, and he appeared to clock on that Lou was pregnant back when they knew each other, or that she had a baby not long after they went their separate ways.
With that it’s become apparent that something happened between Kit and Lou in the past, and Mick has no idea. So Kit’s run-in with Brody next week opens up a can of worms when he finds out Brody’s birthday.
Taking down some personal details, Brody reveals his name and that he was born in January 2009. As soon as he hears this Kit stops writing and looks very shocked, realising this was around the time he last saw Lou and Mick was sent away.
Kit Green will feature in a life-changing twist, with a discovery leading to some deadly scenes(Image: ITV)
Questioning whether he could be the real father of Brody he confronts Brody’s mother Lou. He says: “Is he mine? Lou, could Brody be mine?”
Lou doesn’t even deny it and absolutely hints Kit is correct. Telling him “not to rock the boat”, she responds: “Mick loves him. He’s his dad and has been for 16 years. Please don’t do this.”
But spoilers for next week reveal that Kit will make Mick reconsider Lou’s loyalty with a comment. So does Kit tell Mick that he might be Brody’s dad? After all Mick does find out the truth, as actor Joe Layton teased the villain would be “blindsided” to find out that something happened between them, and that he might not be Brody’s biological father.
Helen Flanagan has teased a potential return to Coronation Street six years on from Rosie Webster’s exit, with the former Celebs Go Dating star having already proposed a storyline
23:17, 16 May 2025Updated 23:17, 16 May 2025
Helen Flanagan spoke about Coronation Street in a recent interview(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Primark)
Actor Helen Flanagan has hinted at a potential return to Coronation Street. The actress, who suggested that the soap opera “needs” her and her character, spoke about the show six years on from her departure.
Helen, 34, is best known for playing Rosie Webster on the long-running ITV soap opera. She made her debut in 2000 and remained on the show until 2012, before returning from 2017 to 2018. Her character hasn’t been seen since then.
There’s been speculation over her potentially returning in recent months. Earlier this year, Helen shared her desire to return and teased how Rosie coming back could play out, saying that she could work at the Rovers Return and “dump” her kids with Sally Metcalfe (played by Sally Dynevor).
Speaking to the Mirror, she said at the time: “I would love to go back to Coronation Street.” Proposing the circumstances of Rosie’s return, she added: “A single mum with a real storyline, with two kids that she dumps with Sally to have her Rovers return play out an iconic barmaid role.”
Then last month, it was suggested that it isn’t the right time for Rosie to return to Corrie though. Helen has now teased the prospect of reprising her character in an interview with the Sun, which was released earlier this evening.
Helen Flanagan has teased a potential return to Coronation Street(Image: Getty Images)
Helen said: “I can’t say too much, but it could be possible that I could go back.” The former cast member added that she gets on with “everyone” on the show, which “changed” her life. She then said that her “loyalty” is with Corrie.
The actor went on to discuss Rosie, with Helen telling the outlet that she feels like the character is “part” of her. Sharing her thoughts, she teased that Corrie “needs” her, before adding that the soap opera “needs” Rosie too.
Alongside a potential return, Helen also expressed interest in taking part in Celebrity Big Brother in the future. She’s no stranger to appearing on reality TV, including having taken part in dating show Celebs Go Dating last year.
The actor, who played Rosie Webster, was last seen on the ITV show in 2018(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
She was also among the campmates on I’m a Celebrity back in 2012, appearing alongside the likes of EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, who won that series. Helen later took part in the ‘All Stars’ spin-off, which was broadcast in 2023.
Helen however shared concern about the prospect of reality TV work affecting her acting career. She said: “If you want to focus on your acting, I do think sometimes it can be hard going down the reality TV route to be taken seriously.”
Since Helen last appeared on Corrie, relatives of Rosie have arrived in Weatherfield, with the character now having more family there than before. They include her aunt Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney), who returned in 2019 after 30-year absence.
More recently, another relative of Rosie’s father Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) turned up on the street. Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard), who is the younger brother of Kevin and Debbie, was introduced to viewers last month.
Coronation Street and Emmerdale fans are in for a treat as ITV have announced a special crossover episode between the two popular soaps – with some iconic characters expected to return
23:34, 14 May 2025Updated 23:56, 14 May 2025
Denise in her first soap role as Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street in the 90s(Image: Granada TV)
The Loose Women star is now 13/8 to walk the cobbles, a fall which comes just as ITV has announced a special crossover episode of its two soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Chatter among fans on social media includes hopes favourite characters will return – but ITV has kept tight-lipped about who will star in the episode.
It is understood, though, one character – potentially past or present – from each drama will meet face to face. Although Carla Connor from Corrie and Charity Dingle from Emmerdale are currently the favourites (11/8) to meet face to face, odds suggest Denise’s character Natalie Barnes may be in the running.
But Carla’s potential meeting with Kim Tate (Claire King) is placed at (2/1). Could there be a business deal brewing between Yorkshire and Manchester?
Denise appeared in Emmerdale as Heidi late last year, and is also known for appearing as Alison Slater in Eastenders(Image: BBC)
It seems that the Cobbles might witness the return of Loose Women star Denise Welch (13/8) for this crossover event. Denise played Natalie in Corrie between 1997 and 2000, and made an appearance in Emmerdale as a juror named Heidi late last year.
James Leyfield, Entertainment expert at Gambling.com, suggests another popular pairing could see Corrie’s Kirk Sutherland (Andy Whyment) and Dales legend Sam Dingle (James Hooton) team up, with odds of 6/4 for them to meet, reports the Daily Record.
Denise also played Alison Slater in EastEnders back in 2016. She’s also well-known for her role as Steph Haydock in the BBC school drama Waterloo Road, a role she is set to reprise this year in a reboot.
ITV chiefs have yet to reveal how fans will vote for which two characters, one from each soap, they would like to see interact in the crossover episode. One of the most anticipated pairings between Corrie and Emmerdale is Corrie’s Carla Connor, portrayed by Alison King, and Emmerdale’s Charity Dingle, played by Emma Atkins.
It would be a delightful nod to soap history if Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, were to share a scene with Emmerdale stalwart Eric Pollard, portrayed by Chris Chittell There are odds of 5/2 for the duo to join forces, but it’s nearly as probable for Corrie and Emmerdale’s villains to share a scene. Gary Windass, played by Mikey North, and Cain Dingle, portrayed by Jeff Hordley, have odds of 3/1 to meet.
Steve and Jai have odds of 6/1 to encounter each other in the crossover episode, and a similar scenario could occur between Corrie’s Nick Tilsley, played by Ben Price, and Dales matriarch Kim Tate. Claire and Ben had an on-screen romance on the cobbles when their characters Erica Holroyd and Nick got together. The odds are 8/1 that they’ll reunite from separate soaps in the special episode.
Natalie Anderson’s new Corrie character Danielle Silverton has odds of 10/1 to meet up with Emmerdale’s Jacob Gallagher, played by Joe Warren-Plant, after Natalie previously played Joe’s mother Alicia Gallagher in the Dales.
