Coronation Street fans have witnesses numerous faces come and go over the decades.
While some popular residents, like veteran Ken Barlow (Bill Roache), have stuck around since day one, others have left and come back years later.
As 2022 is set to be another dramatic year in Weatherfield, Daily Star has taken a look back at the stars who dramatically left the show but later decided to return.
From the likes of fan favourite Tina O’Brien to soap icon Sally Ann Matthews, here are just a select few of the famous faces who just couldn’t keep away from the Cobbles.
Tina O’Brien – Sarah Platt
Tina joined Coronation Street in 1999 as Sarah Platt at the age of 16 taking over from actress Lynsay King.
Soapland was rocked when the beauty quit the show in 2007 after eight years.
Tina first role after leaving Coronation Street was in the 2007 pantomime at Manchester Opera House, where she played the title character of Cinderella.
Her first television role post-Coronation Street was in the ITV police television drama Blue Murder, filmed whilst four months pregnant, in which she played a character called Amy Kirkland.
In 2010, Tina starred in the sixth series of the BBC school drama Waterloo Road as Bex Fisher, the eldest daughter of the new headteacher Karen Fisher (Amanda Burton).
She also appeared in The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister as Miss Browne, a role which required her first on-screen lesbian kiss, and Strictly Come Dancing the same year.
In October 2014, Tina announced that she would be reprising her role of Sarah Platt.
Her return was aired on an episode broadcast on 30 March 2015.
Since arriving back in Weatherfield, Sarah has faced mental health struggles, married Adam Barlow and was involved in the murder of Callum Logan.
Sam Robertson – Adam Barlow
(Image: ITV)
Sam is the second actor to play Adam Barlow and has been part of the cast since 2004.
The role was originally played by Iain De Caestecker from 2001 until 2003.
After taking over the role, Sam decided to leave the soap in 2007 when Adam moved to Portsmouth with his uncle, Peter Barlow, and opened a bookies together.
Sam made a Corrie comeback as Adam nine years later in 2016.
Of his return, he said, “I’m delighted to be back. Coronation Street was my first job as an actor and is a special place for me.
(Image: ITV)
“As a young actor it was a little overwhelming, so I’m looking forward to coming back and stamping my mark on the character – I feel there’s unfinished business with Adam”.
During his time away from the show, the soap hunk joined the BBC Scotland soap opera River City as new character Innes Maitland.
He also played Flynn in the E4 series Beaver Falls, which aired in July 2011 in the UK.
In 2013, Sam became housemate in the eleventh series of Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5 but was the second evictee of the series.
Since arriving back in Weatherifled, Adam has been involved in plenty of dramatic storylines including the “whodunnit” plot involving the attack of his grandfather Ken Barlow.
Ben Price – Nick Tilsley
Nick Tilsey has been played by three different actors since he made his debut back in 1981.
Actor Ben has played the role of Gail Platt’s son since 2009 and he shockingly announced he was leaving the show in 2017.
Speaking about his departure at the time, Ben said: “I want to be able to spend more time with my family.
“I have been supported by a terrific cast and crew and have had the most glorious storylines and for that I am most grateful.”
However, the star returned to the show the follow year.
Since being back in Weatherfield, Nick has been part of several storylines including stealing £80,000 from grandmother Audrey, reuniting with ex-wife Leanne, opening a barber shop called A Trim Up North with brother David and discovering that he has a son, Sam, with his ex-girlfriend Natasha Blakeman (Rachel Leskovac).
Ben also has a podcast called Sofa Cinema Club with Coronation Street co-actors Jack P. Shepherd and Colson Smith who play David Platt and Craig Tinker respectively.
Qasim Akhtar – Zeedan Nair
(Image: TV Grab)
Zeedan was still reeling from the death of his mother Jamila when the Nazirs moved to Coronation Street in 2014.
He disapproved of his dad Kal’s relationship with ex-prostitute Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) but they were reconciled prior to Kal’s death in the fire at Victoria Court in 2015.
In 2016, Zeedan started seeing Alya’s friend Rana romantically. They got married in a Nikah ceremony, with a registry office wedding following in 2017.
The following year, Rana confessed that she was in a relationship with Kate Connor and left Zeedan.
The marriage survived in name only for a while as Rana’s strict Muslim parents, disapproving of their daughter’s sexuality, paid Zeedan to keep their split a secret.
(Image: shared content unit)
Zeedan used the money to set up Speed Daal but he left Weatherfield in 2018 in order to lie low after thumping Phil Warriner for harassing Rana and Kate.
After spending three years in London, actor Qasim returned as Zeedan in 2021 following the breakdown of another marriage, this time to Marrium Elamin.
Using £50,000 of his father-in-law Hashim’s money to rescue Speed Daal from financial ruin, Zeedan was forced to launder money for Hashim to repay the debt.
His troubles seemingly ended when Hashim suffered a heart attack and died in front of him.
Tracie Bennett – Sharon Bentley
Sharon first appeared onscreen during back in March 1982 and remained until actress Tracie’s departure in 1984.
She later made a brief return 15 years later in 1999 to invite her foster mum Rita to her wedding.
Things didn’t go quite to plan for Sharon and she once again left Weatherfield.
In 2021, it was announced that Tracie would be reprising her role as Sharon.
On her return, she commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to be returning to the cobbles. It is a dream come true for me.
“I had such an amazing time there, and I am looking forward to working with Barbara again and getting my teeth into the storylines they have planned for Sharon.”
(Image: Press Association Images)
She was initially approached by producers 18 months prior to her return, but due to her work schedule and the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic on television, it meant that her return date was pushed back.
Sharon returned and reconnected with Rita having recovered from cancer and being ditched by husband Ian.
Her real reason for returning to the area was to seek out Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) for her drug-dealing nephew Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor).
Her intentions were eventually discovered by Rita’s other former foster daughter Jenny Connor and Sharon fled the street.
She later betrayed Harvey by testifying against him in court and took over his Firm.
She left Weatherfield again following Harvey’s sentencing.
Sally Ann Matthews – Jenny Connor
(Image: ITV)
Sally Ann first joined the cast of Corrie as one of Rita Sullivan’s wayward foster daughters Jenny Bradley back in 1986.
She played the role for five years before leaving in 1991.
The character later made a brief return in 1993.
In 2005, Sally Ann joined the cast of Emmerdale as farmer’s wife Sandra Briggs, but left less than a year later.
In an interview with Inside Soap, the show’s executive producer, Kathleen Beedles, admitted casting Matthews, well-known to soap fans from Coronation Street, in what would essentially become a minor role was a mistake.
She also confirmed she would like the star to return to the show in some capacity in the future.
However, the actress returned to Coronation Street as Jenny in February 2015 after 22 years.
Although upon her return she is portrayed as a tragic character, Jenny has somewhat become more comedic.
She married Johnny Connor (Richard Hawley) in 2017 and her storylines since then have revolved around their relationship and she is often caught up in the family issues.
Jenny and Johnny later separated and she became the sole owner and landlady of the Rovers Return Inn.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
