It will be a bittersweet year for fans of Coronation Street, as while Sue Cleaver will be leaving the soap as Eileen Grimshaw after 25 years, her exit storyline will see the return of a beloved, long-missed character.
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It has now been confirmed that Katy Cavanagh will be returning to the cobbles as Julie Carp, Eileen's sister, after almost 10 years off-screen.
Cavanagh has already begun filming, and Julie will arrive in Weatherfield on 21st February 21st, ahead of Sue's exit storyline in late spring.
Cavanagh said of her return: "It is exciting to dust off Julie’s quirky wardrobe again and an absolute joy to step back onto the cobbles.
"Julie is so much fun, I’ve missed her."
Katy Cavanagh as Julie Carp in Coronation Street. ITV
ITV has teased that Eileen and Todd are delighted to be reunited with Julie, but hinted at a secret reason behind her decision to return to Weatherfield, and asked not only how long she's planning on staying, but how former partner Brian Packham feel about her arrival.
Producer Kate Brooks said in a statement: "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."
Cavanagh's first stint on the show was between 2008 and 2015, with her exit storyline seeing Julie find love with Newsagent Brian Packham and leaving the street together. The couple later split and Brian returned without her.
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
