DUTY CALLS Coronation Street star makes a surprise return TODAY after disappearing from screens for six months
A CORONATION Street star has made a surprise return in today’s instalment of the show after disappearing from screens for six months.
The actress in question has played an on-off role in the ITV soap for nearly 10 years.
It’s none other than Donnaleigh Bailey; she will be returning to the cobbles as PC Jess Heywood.
As PC Jess returns she is set to investigate Todd Grimshaw and Theo’s domestic violence case.
In the episode, Todd bravely speaks up about the months of abuse his husband Theo Silverton had subjected him to.
Earlier this week, a badly beaten and bloody Todd turned up on Sarah Platt’s doorstep, begging her for help.
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She believed he’d moved to Northern Ireland with Theo, but was actually being ruthlessly held captive in his own flat.
But now, Weatherfield copper Jess Heywood has made her return to make sure justice is served.
The telly icon last graced our screens on Friday October 3 back in 2025.
Soap star Donnaleigh was first introduced as a policewoman and Craig’s mentor.
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However, this wasn’t her first appearance on the show.
Before she joined the boys in blue, 43-year-old Donnaleigh stepped onto the cobbles as another character.
In 2015, she slipped into the uniform of an unnamed nurse at the Rosamund Street Medical Centre as she tended to Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) after he had badly cut his arm.
One year later she took on the role of PC Woodruff from April to December, 2016, when the authorities were tipped off by Sharif Nazir that an acquaintance of Gary Windass was dealing steroids through the gym, V Court Fitness.
After this appearance, she locked down the fan-favourite role of PC Jess Heywood.
But, how long will she stay for this time?
Coronation Street wasn’t the first UK soap to give her a chance.
From 2002 to 2010, Donnaleigh appeared in numerous episodes of the rival soaps Doctors, Crossroads and Holby City, which was recently given the chop.
In 2019, she even took on the small role of Tina Frazier in one episode of Casualty.
