A MAJOR character has returned from the dead in Coronation Street tonight to save his husband.

The ITV soap stunned viewers in today’s episode when Paul Foreman made a shock return from the dead – weeks after he

died of motor neurone disease.

His friends and family gathered in the episode to watch as his ashes were sent to space, but his widower Billy Mayhew was clearly finding it all too hard.

But as Paul’s friends and family – and some very emotive extras – gathered in the Rovers to watch his ashes being floated up into the atmosphere, Billy was too drunk to hide his venom.

“This is a circus, it’s nothing to do with Paul,” he grumbled.

Grabbing the remote, a sozzled Billy told everyone: “It’s a farce. He’s already gone, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him and now I don’t even have any of his ashes.”

Bernie tried to make Billy feel better by telling him he was a loving husband to Paul and he shouldn’t beat himself up.

But that had the opposite effect and Billy outed his pass at Todd on the day of the funeral.

He told everyone in the Rovers: “Hear that Todd? Some loving husband.

“I tried to kiss Todd on the day of Paul’s funeral. That’s what kind of loving husband I am.”

Bernie broke down in tears and Gemma raged at Todd as Billy stormed out alone – going onto the shop to buy a bottle of booze to continue his boozing.

She went to visit Todd later and found out the full story – and both of them became incredibly worried about Billy after realising he was still drinking and hadn’t been seen.

Bernie told Todd to believe his instincts if he thought Billy was in trouble – and they agreed to find him.

However it soon became clear that Billy was listening to recordings of Paul’s voice while drinking on the cold streets and ignoring calls from Todd until his phone battery died.

He could be seen beginning to lose consciousness – and then Paul made a shock return.

“Get up you lazy arse,” he said to Billy.