There are plenty of comings and goings on the cobbles in the coming weeks, with several Coronation Street cast changes confirmed
While fans of the ITV soap have recently seen the return of killer Clayton Hibbs (Callum Harrison) and a shock appearance from Richard Hillman (Brian
Capron), as well as the final appearance of evil Joel Deering (Calum Lill) after a series of flashbacks revealed his killer and Gail Platt’s (Helen Worth) exit after
50 years, there’s set to be more hellos and goodbyes in Weatherfield.
Here’s the lowdown on who’s returning and who’s leaving…
CORONATION STREET CAST RETURNS
Rob Donovan
Corrie bad boy Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis) is set to return to our screens next week as Bobby Crawford (Jack Carroll) sets out on a mission to find Carla Connor (Alison King) a new kidney.
The killer, who murdered Tina McIntyre in 2014, has been in prison for the last ten years – minus a few weeks that saw him go on the run with Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) in 2017.
‘We last left Rob languishing in prison. He made mistakes. He comes back to the show and we think he might be a reformed character who has seen the error of his ways, but whether that’s the case or not, I don’t know!’ Producer Kate Brooks revealed.
‘He definitely comes back and causes a lot of trouble for Carla and Lisa [Swain (Vicky Myers)]. Just when Carla and Lisa think it’s safe to sit down and watch Netflix, Rob Donovan comes along and scuppers all of that.
‘So, it’s a big story for them and a big story for Rob. Lots of twists and turns. It’s a big story for Betsy [Swain (Sydney Martin) as well, who is fabulous and will be right at the centre of that.
‘I love Rob and Carla. I love tapping into their history together, and we really explore that through this story. There’s so many twists and turns along the way, it’s really exciting. It’s going to be eventful for Carla and Lisa…’
Kate also confirmed that Rob is set to be on our screens for more than just a few episodes, suggesting that he may be sticking around for a while.
When is Rob Donovan returning to Coronation Street? Friday, January 10 2025.
Gail Platt
Although she’s only just left the show, executive producer Iain MacLeod has already teased a return for Gail.
‘Helen and I have had a conversation where she’s said, “There might be times in my future where I’ll come back”,’ he told The Daily Star.
‘If there’s a big storyline going on with the Platt family, she might want to come in and play a role in that.
‘We certainly wanted to leave the door open so that was possible. We wanted that to still be on the cards.’
While there are no plans yet for the beloved character to return, we’re hopeful we may see her again.
When is Gail Platt returning to Coronation Street? Currently unknown (when or if!).
Other characters…
Producer Kate Brooks as also teased returns for other characters, but her lips are tightly sealed.
‘There are other familiar faces coming back in 2025 which I will not disclose, but a few people will be returning to the street to cause their own forms of chaos,’ she told us.
CORONATION STREET CAST EXITS
Debbie Webster
Debbie Webster is set to be killed off in a harrowing storyline, which kicks off in 2025.
Viewers will see the character – first played by Sue Devaney in 1984 – diagnosed with dementia in the coming months, with a long-running storyline planned as the disease takes hold.
It’s one of many major plots new Corrie boss Kate Brooks has planned after taking the helm earlier this year.
A source told Metro ‘there will not be a dry eye in the house’ as Debbie’s story unfolds, saying her exit will be ‘one to remember for years’.
‘It’s one of the show’s biggest storylines of the year and a real chance for Sue to finally get her time in the spotlight – it will just be devastating for fans that it will effectively be her final storyline,’ the insider told us.
