Charlie Lawson to return as bad boy Jim McDonald

Jim McDonald is returning to Coronation Street.

The bad boy character, played by Charlie Lawson, will make a comeback later this year for an initial three-month period.
As Jim is currently serving a jail sentence for armed robbery, it is thought that the storyline won't see him return to the cobbles but will instead focus on his life behind bars.

Jim had a fiery relationship with wife Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) and was last seen in the ITV soap in 2011 when he was sentenced for seven years after attempting to rob a Building Society to give Liz enough money to buy the Rovers Return.

While firm storyline details are being kept under wraps, Jim's latest reappearance in the show is expected to involve new tension for him and Liz.

McDonald was a regular in Corrie for 11 years between 1989 and 2000. He has made infrequent appearances since.

He will return to screens in July.

Jimmi Harkishin to take Corrie break!

Jimmi Harkishin is taking a break from Coronation Street, We can confirm.

The actor has played corner shop boss Dev Alahan for the last 15 years but has decided he needs to take an extended break.

He sat down with the soap's top boss, Stuart Blackburn, and asked for three months away from the cobbles.

Stuart gave his break the green light but won't be leaving until early next year so that soap chiefs have the time to plan how they will write his character out.

A show insider said: "Jimmi has just decided that after 15 years playing Dev he needs a short break so that he can go travelling.

"He hasn't got any plans set in stone yet, he doesn't even know where he wants to go on his travels! But he wanted that time off to go exploring.

"As he's not going until next year we have plenty of time to come up with a legitimate reason for Dev to leave Weatherfield for a few months."

Dennis Tanner returns to Weatherfield

Dennis Tanner finds himself with some explaining to do next week after he returns in surprising circumstances.

Dennis (Philip Lowrie) left Weatherfield earlier this year for a new life with Gloria Price, but it soon transpires that all is not as it seems.
Rita Tanner is left shocked when she learns that her estranged husband is injured in hospital after being beaten up. 

However, when she goes to visit him, Rita greets Dennis with a frosty reception and wants him to explain himself.

Rita is unsympathetic when Dennis reveals that it all went wrong with Gloria and he ended up sleeping on the streets.

Taking pity on him, she allows him to stay on her sofa, but makes it clear that it is only a temporary arrangement.

It was confirmed after Dennis's temporary exit in February that his final scenes would air later in the year. 

Tyrone to call police on Maria after text reveal

Tyrone Dobbs will call the police on Maria Connor after learning that she is the mystery person who has been secretly terrorising him. 

It was revealed yesterday (April 7) that Maria (Samia Ghadie) will leave Tyrone (Alan Halsall) terrified when she sends him a number of text messages pretending to be his violent ex-fiancée Kirsty Soames, who has been released from prison.

Maria's devious actions are part of a plan to grow closer to Tyrone as he leans on her for support throughout the ordeal, but her plan comes under threat when David Platt becomes the first person to uncover her secret. 

However, the Daily Star reports that Tyrone and his partner Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine) will discover the truth when he rings the number of his stalker and realises that the messages have been sent from Maria's new phone.

Feeling completely betrayed, Tyrone confronts Maria over her actions, before calling the police and reporting her.

Coronation Street airs the start of the texting storyline next week.

Chris Gascoyne: 'Peter goes to rehab'

Peter Barlow heads off to rehab next week under the strict instruction of his wife Carla.

When Carla (Alison King) finds out that Peter is drinking again, she immediately insists that he needs to clean up his act for the sake of their unborn baby.

Viewers know that the stress of Peter's recent affair with Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) has driven him back to the bottle, but Carla still has no idea this is the case and tries her best to support her wayward husband.

Here, Chris Gascoyne - who plays Peter - previews the latest trouble in store for his character.

How would you describe the current situation between Peter and Tina?
"Peter was overcome with relief when Tina's pregnancy test came back negative and I think he used that opportunity to finish things with Tina. He feels as though he might have gotten away with it, until Tina starts pursuing him again."

Does Peter worry that Tina hasn't really got the message?
"At first Peter thinks it's going to be quite simple. She's a lot younger than him and I think Peter arrogantly believes he'll be able to brush her off quite easily by saying she can do so much better than him. 

"When Tina texts him telling him she loves him, he realises it's going to be more difficult than he thought. That's another reason for him turning back to the bottle. It's a defence mechanism for Peter - as soon as he thinks he's in danger of things going wrong, he returns to his old demons." 

Does Tina realise how bad Peter's state of mind is?
"I don't think so. She doesn't know that Carla's pregnant, so she has no idea that he's having to deal with that too. Tina's not going to let him go easily, and she doesn't realise that the more she tries to win him back, the further she's pushing him into a dark hole. I don't think Tina realises how bad it is until Carla asks her for her help when she discovers he's fallen off the wagon."
Does this make Tina back off?
"No, quite the opposite. Tina thinks she can help Peter and tells him she wants to be there for him and help him, but it just makes him worse. It makes him realise that she's really not going anywhere, and that she is a threat to his relationship with Carla. It's not as simple and as carefree as he first thought it was when he went into it."

Why doesn't Peter just tell Tina to back off?
"Peter's conscious that if he upsets her by being harsh and to the point, she'll turn nasty and end up telling Carla. He's trying to tread carefully around her and end it with her as calmly as possible - he almost wants to get her to a position where she's agreeing with him that it's best they end it." 

How does Carla react when she finds out that Peter has been drinking?
"She's absolutely furious. He's been lying to her and she realises it when he comes in stinking of whisky, and it's made worse that he stood her and Simon up. 

"Carla's upset that he's fallen off the wagon when he knows she's pregnant. She tells him that he's risking his life by drinking and that he has an unborn child to think of now, as well as her and Simon. She's even more annoyed when Peter tries to tell her it's because of the stress he's under to be the perfect husband and father. Carla doesn't buy it."
Carla warns that if Peter drinks again, she won't have the baby. Does that worry him?
"She's sick of hearing his excuses and him feeling sorry for himself and this is the final straw. Carla had to battle a lot of demons when she found out she was pregnant and she needs Peter more than ever, but now he's drinking again she's scared he can't be there for her. 

"When she finally plucked up the courage to tell him she was pregnant, Peter vowed he'd be there for her 100%. When she gives him this ultimatum, he feels more trapped than ever. He's completely stunned by what she says." 

How does Peter feel when Carla tells him that he has to go to rehab?
"Carla doesn't even really give him a choice. She more or less tells him he has to go and I think he knows better than to argue with her about it. He's no energy to think about anything else at that point other than where his next drink is going to come from." 

Why does Carla phone Tina?
"Carla is struggling to keep everything afloat at the factory and look after Peter as well. She doesn't want to leave Peter on his own because she's scared and worried that he won't be able to keep away from the bottle. 

"Peter's humiliated when she asks Steve to come round and sit with him - he feels like he's being babysat. Obviously Carla has no idea about Peter and Tina, and doesn't think twice about calling her to ask for her help as well."
Was it always inevitable that he'd fall off the wagon?
"Peter's an addict, he has a drink problem - so yes, I do think it was always inevitable given what trouble he was going to land himself in with Tina and Carla. At the moment he can't find a way out of the hole he's found himself in and the only thing he feels he can turn is to drink. 

"It's all going to come crashing down - it's never going to end well for Tina, and Peter at some point is going to have to face the consequences of his actions."

David Platt to discover Maria's Kirsty plan

David Platt will be first to discover that Maria Connor is secretly terrorising Tyrone Dobbs.

Yesterday (April 7), it was revealed that Maria will leave Tyrone (Alan Halsall) in turmoil when she sends him a number of text messages pretending to be his violent ex-fiancée Kirsty Soames, who has been released from prison.
Maria comes up with the scheme as her feelings for Tyrone have been reawakened and she wants to feel closer to the mechanic by comforting him throughout the ordeal.

Although Maria is delighted when her plan begins to pay off, it's not long before she is caught out when her work colleague David (Jack P Shepherd) realises what she is up to.

Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria, explained: "Maria's really embarrassed and clearly upset when David confronts her. He realises that she's in love with Tyrone, but urges her to tell him the truth before it's too late. 

"Maria actually begins to listen to him, but when Tyrone again turns to her for comfort, she just can't help herself and sends another text."
She continued: "Maria doesn't want Tyrone to know that she's been pretending to be Kirsty and for now she will continue to send the texts. It seems to be bringing her and Tyrone closer together and it's putting a strain on Fiz and Tyrone's relationship. Maria knows she's in the wrong but she just can't help herself."

Maria's erratic behaviour comes in the aftermath of her split from Marcus Dent, which has pushed her over the edge. 

Ghadie continued: "Maria is clearly in a bad way mentally. She's not herself right now and is really struggling to cope with Marcus's betrayal. In a way you have to feel sorry for her because she's so desperate to just be loved." 

Asked whether Maria could find a new man, the actress replied: "Maria is so fragile right now. I think it would be best if she took some time out to just be herself and be single. She probably thinks that having a man in her life would solve all her worries, but this is Weatherfield and not many people live happily ever after."

Coronation Street begins the malicious texting storyline next week.

Samia Ghadie on Maria, Tyrone mystery texts: 'It's twisted'

Samia Ghadie has confirmed that her character Maria Connor will be the culprit behind Tyrone Dobbs's mystery texts.

As previously reported, Tyrone will be left fearful when he hears that Kirsty is now a free woman again, and then starts receiving a number of text messages signed off as "K".
However, Ghadie has confirmed on the official Coronation Street website that Maria will be the person responsible. 

The story kicks off after an increasingly vulnerable Maria starts to develop feelings for Tyrone once again, as she struggles to cope with her split from Marcus Dent.

After Tyrone lends Maria support following a confrontation with Todd, she misreads the signs and attempts to kiss him. 

Later, Maria texts Tyrone to apologise, but Tyrone doesn't have her new mobile number and automatically thinks it's from the newly released Kirsty.

However, when Tyrone confides in Maria over his fears, she is happy to feel needed by him and doesn't set him straight, leaving him to believe Kirsty is back on the scene. 

Ghadie said: "Maria wants him to need her. And because Tyrone doesn't think he can lean on Fiz he turns to Maria for support.

"It's twisted but Maria feels wanted by Tyrone and because of that she finds it difficult to stop pretending to be Kirsty."

Debbie Rush renews wedding vows with husband Andrew

Debbie Rush renewed her wedding vows over the weekend during a ceremony in Rochdale.

The actress, who plays Anna Windass in the ITV soap, and her husband Andrew were joined by their friends and family as they celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with the special service.
Rush was also joined by several of her Coronation Street co-stars including Catherine Tyldesley, Brooke Vincent, Alan Halsall, Jennie McAlpine, Jack P Shepherd, Alison King and Ellie Leach - who plays her on screen daughter Faye.

Julie Hesmondhalgh, who exited the show as Hayley Cropper earlier this year, also attended the event. 

Rush has played Anna on the show since 2008. The character and her family are currently involved in an ongoing storyline that has seen them being continuously blackmailed by Pat Phelan.

Coronation Street airs tonight (April 7) at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.