Coronation Street fans are hoping for the return of iconic character Geoffrey “Spider” Nugent after actress Georgia Taylor shared a throwback snap.
Her character Toyah Battersby was dating the eco-warrior back in the 1990s, though she’s now grown up and happily settled with solicitor Imran Habeeb (Charlie De Mello).
Georgia, who has been in Corrie on and off since 1997, shared an image from a magazine photoshoot which saw her cuddling up to her then on-screen lover Martin Hancock.
Poking fun at herself, she wrote in the caption of the picture from 1999: “I mean, eyebrows are for losers, right?”
She could be seen with light brown hair with blonde highlights, barely there eyebrows and her lips painted a soft red.
Fans and friends immediately rushed to the comments section, with many of Georgia’s Corrie pals sharing their thoughts.
Former Eva Price star Catherine Tyldesley said: “This is everything x.”
Newly announced Strictly star Katie McGlynn, who played Sinead Osbourne, commented: “Amazing.”
Meanwhile, one fan said: “What a great photo. Would love Martin to return as Spider and watch Toyah’s reaction.”
Another demanded: “Bring back Spider.”
A third wrote: “I wish Spider would return!”
And someone else begged: “Spider come back to the street we miss you.”
Actor Martin Hancock played vegan “eco-warrior” Spider, the nephew of classic character Emily Bishop, who was played by Eileen Derbyshire.
He appeared on Corrie on and off between 1997 and 2003, racking up appearances in 242 episodes before he left.
Spider and Toyah left Weatherfield together for a fresh start in London, but they broke up a few years later.
The last viewers heard of him was in 2016, when Emily visited him in Peru to help with his charity work.
Martin went on to appear in the likes of Doctors, Casualty, The Bill and Holby City.
In 2008 he starred alongside Daniel Craig in Defiance, and even made an appearance in horror film Hannibal Rising.
Most recently he appeared in an episode of In the Long Run last year, playing Trevor.
Back in 2000, which was when Martin originally left Corrie as a regular character, he said the decision to leave was the right one as Spider had become “too normal”.
He told The Mirror: “Spider working in the dole office was not working out. The character started to meander. It is better to go.
“My intention wasn’t to stay for three years, anyway! So I was quite chuffed to stay this long.”
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk