CORONATION Street fans are in for a surprise after one of the show’s villains made a shock return to the

set.

Ciaran Griffiths, who plays Damon Hay in the ITV1 soap, has been seen at Media City in Manchester –

despite moving back home to Australia with his wife and son.

His character Damon is currently behind bars after he was sentenced to six years in March this year for armed robbery.

The sighting will now leave fans wondering why Damon is making a return – and whether another Corrie resident is set to be banged up alongside him.

A source has exclusively told The Sun: “Ciaran has been spotted on set in recent days – which will be a shock to fans because when he left the show, he went back to Australia.

“The actor returns to filming whenever the show needs to see him in prison.

“Because his character was sentenced to six years behind bars, that means it’s likely one unlucky cobbles resident is going to end up in prison – as Damon isn’t getting out any day soon.”

Ciaran, who originally hales from Manchester, bowed out of Coronation Street in March after a two-year stint.

The actor, who moved to Australia in 2019, returned Down Under and married his now-wife following his soap exit. They live there together with their son.

Ciaran’s character Damon – who was dating Sarah Platt – was jailed following an armed robbery, which he was coerced into committing by his brother Harvey Gaskell.

Damon had decided to plead guilty and be sent to prison, rather than live a free life with Sarah but drop Harvey in it.

The gangster duo were left plotting the relaunch of their criminal empire from behind bars.

Damon was visited in prison by Sarah and led fans to believe it would be the last of him, as he broke up with her.

He told her: “I’m doing you a massive favour.

“You turned my world upside down but if I loved you, properly loved you, I wouldn’t have done the stuff I’ve done.

“You’ve got to walk away. I’m sorry, it’s my decision. Goodbye, Sarah.”

Ciaran’s most recent stint on Coronation Street was his second time on the show following a brief first exit in 2023.

His character Damon had fled Wetherfield that time after Sarah’s husband Adam had cottoned onto his wife’s affair with him.

Adam tracked down an old contact of Damon’s and he ran away, fearing for his safety.

When asked in an interview why he thought Corrie bosses had brought him back, Ciaran said: “I think there’s a lot of mileage to him still, you want to see what happens with him and Sarah, you want to see what happens with him and Adam, especially after Adam did the dirty on him last time and forced him to do a runner.”

Following Damon’s imprisonment in March this year, a source confirmed he could make a comeback.

“Ciaran’s loved his time on the show but Damon’s story came to a natural end for now,” the insider told The Sun.

“The door has been left open but for now it’s time to say goodbye to him.”