Suranne Jones has sparked a wave of excitement among Coronation Street fans after revealing she wouldn’t rule out a return to the soap that helped launch her career.

In a recent interview with The Times, the actress said she’d be open to stepping back into the role of Karen McDonald more than two decades after she last appeared on the cobbles. ‘Why not?’ she said, adding that, with so many years gone by, ‘it might be fun.’

Suranne first joined Coronation Street in 2000 and quickly became a household name thanks to her explosive performance as Karen, the fiery and ambitious wife of Steve McDonald, played by Simon Gregson. Their on-screen chemistry, along with Karen’s sharp wit and fierce personality, made her one of the show’s most iconic characters of the early 2000s. Jones left in 2004 and has since gone on to build a highly respected career, with standout roles in Doctor Foster, Gentleman Jack, Save Me, and the Netflix thriller Hostage.

Reflecting on her time on the soap, Suranne admitted to The Times that while she once would have dismissed the idea of going back, her perspective has shifted over time. “I’d have said no years ago,” she said. “But maybe now. I think it would be interesting.”

Her comments come at a time of major change for Coronation Street. This year alone, several long-time cast members have announced their exits, including Helen Worth, Sally Ann Matthews, Charlotte Jordan, Shelley King, and Colson Smith. Most recently, it was confirmed that Sue Devaney’s character, Debbie Webster, will be written out in a long-running dementia storyline that’s expected to conclude in 2027.

This comes just weeks after Suranne Jones opened up in a Celebrity Angels interview about the challenges she faced early in her career. Reflecting on that time, she said, ‘It was huge. The paps were chasing us; it was just a different time. It was not fun, not when you’re young.’ She added, ‘It was around the time of people needing to look a certain way, and all of that ring of shame, that’s the era that we’re talking about.’ Continuing, Suranne revealed, ‘I was in the press a lot back then, and I had people outside my house. I was being followed.’