SOAPS are known for their outlandish storylines – and comebacks are often the most crazy of all.

Bringing back legendary characters – even those that are long dead – is a way to

win over fans and tempt old viewers back to the series.

The most iconic returns include Emmerdale’s Kim Tate, Coronation Street’s Jenny Connor and EastEnders’ Ben Mitchell.

But resurrecting a much-loved fan favourite doesn’t always go to plan.

This Christmas saw a underwhelming return of Richard Hillman – played by Bryan Capron – in Coronation Street as part of Gail Platt’s exit storyline.

Fans were left distinctly unimpressed with his brief appearance in Gail’s pre-wedding dream – after he was killed off 21 years ago.

EastEnders’ bosses will be hoping the return of Ross Kemp as Grant Mitchell – to celebrate the soaps 40th anniversary later this year – will be more successful.

The Sun has a look at some of the worst returns in soap history.

Coronation Street’s Bet Lynch

She was an icon of soapland, played by Julie Goodyear, and her return to the cobbles in 2002 was expected to be nothing short of spectacular.

The character had left Weatherfield in 1995 after being on-screen for 25 years.

Sadly, the much-anticipated comeback proved underwhelming as Julie struggled with the way filming had changes – as well as allegedly butting heads with other actors.

Despite signing a year’s contract, her first return in 2002 lasted just 17 days as she struggled with the new schedules.

In 2003 she made a brief appearance which saw her husband-to-be die on their wedding day, and Bet return to Brighton with Liz McDonald in tow.

Fans were underwhelmed by her lack of storylines with some complaining that all they really got was her catching up with a former neighbour.

“I was asked to go back as a favour. So, yes, I do regret going back,” she said later.

She said the new working regime felt like a “conveyor belt” adding: “I thought, ‘It’s time I put my health, for the first time, first’.”

Coronation Street’s Jim McDonald

Jim made waves when he arrived on the cobbles with wife Liz back in 1989 and has made numerous comebacks since his first exit in 2000.

Fans have complained that the character, played by Charlie Lawson, gets more erratic every single time he returns – which has been four times to date.

His most recent arrival on the cobbles saw him tell ex-wife Liz that their daughter was still alive, thanks to a hospital mix up, and produce a girl called Hannah.

It was actually a scam to get money from Liz which Jim began to feel guilty about when he started to get closer to her and son Steve – but still went through with it.

It is later revealed that the pair couldn’t be arrested because Liz did hand over the cash willingly.

But fans are unlikely to see him again, as actor Charlie has since branded the soap ‘woke’ and predicted its demise.