Greatest Days: 'I HAVE NO DOUBT I'LL GO BACK'

Kym Marsh is busy on stage and with her family, but Coro is still on her mind

- Judy Kean

It wasn't one of the saddest exits in Coronation Street's history. When Kym Marsh's popular character Michelle Connor drove away from Weatherfield for a new life in Ireland in 2019, it wasn't as heartwrenching as some farewells because the storyline allowed for the possibility Michelle could come back in the future.

At the time, actress Kym who played the barmaid for 13 years - sounded keen to return one day to pull some more pints at the Rovers Return pub.

"We didn't see it as me saying goodbye," she said shortly after her last scenes aired just after Christmas, 2019. "I love the character and it definitely isn't the end of Michelle. I really wouldn't want to shut the door on this."

However, fans who were hoping that a recent storyline involving Michelle's son Ryan getting badly hurt in an acid attack would see her striding back down the Coro cobbles in her high heels were very disappointed. It would have been the perfect opportunity for Kym, 46, to return, but it wasn't to be. Instead, one of the other characters mentioned Michelle couldn't come over from Ireland to see Ryan because she was in hospital, recovering from surgery.

Kym has explained why she didn't seize the chance to put in an appearance, even for an episode or two. In a TV interview she said, "People have been saying, 'Where's Michelle? Ryan needs her!' But I have no plans to go back at the moment."