Coronation Street airs Julie Carp’s return scenes next week.

Todd Grimshaw is shocked to come face-to-face with his auntie during a visit to Debbie Webster’s hotel.

The drama unfolds after Debbie invites Todd and Billy Mayhew to a singles’ event at the Chariot Square Hotel.

It takes some convincing from Todd before Billy agrees to go, as he’s still grieving following the tragic loss of his husband Paul Foreman last year.

When a couple of men approach and offer to buy them drinks, Todd is dismayed as an emotional Billy rushes out.

Todd’s work colleague George Shuttleworth witnesses the incident and gives him a hard time for dragging Billy along before he was ready.

Shortly afterwards, Todd’s attention wanders as he spots Julie at the event. Why is she back in Weatherfield?

Katy Cavanagh, who plays Julie, commented: “It is a real shock for her to see Todd. For reasons she is keeping to herself, she is frightened to meet any of her family.

“She is very good at running away and sugarcoating things, but there is a lot of denial going on.”

Julie’s chance meeting with Todd paves the way for her to stick around on the cobbles for a while, reconnecting with her family.

Katy continued: “Seeing Todd at the hotel really brings it home. It really makes her have to face up to the reality of her life, which is really, really tough. For anybody to have to do that, it’s a very brave thing to have to do.

“Todd is lovely to her. She and Todd always had a great relationship and she’s not realised how loved she is. I don’t think she’s got the highest self-esteem in the world.

“I think she is a bit shocked that people love her as much as they do – that they want her and that they want to take care of her. It overwhelms her. She sort of exists in her own little world, and doesn’t think anyone will care that much. I think that’s what stops her in her tracks and she realises she needs to be with those people.

“I really don’t think she has any close friends back in Wales. She has probably had a few misguided relationships that have gone wrong. She is a bit hapless and she’s not quite got it together to get some kind of security and consistency in her life.

“I think also she’s lived in a bit of a fantasy world, and so she needs to maintain the myth of lovely Julie, and she probably believes a bit of that fantasy world. But what she needs now is reality, security and love.”

Coronation Street bosses announced Julie’s return last month. Her comeback will ultimately lead to the departure of Julie’s sister Eileen Grimshaw after 25 years.

Show producer Kate Brooks recently explained: “We’re delighted to have the inimitable Julie Carp back on the cobbles. As the ever lovable Julie breezes back into the lives of the Grimshaws, 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.”