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Actress Georgia Taylor will return to the role of Toyah Battersby next month and will appear on screen this December.

Christmas is a time for families and Leanne Battersby is heading for a festive family reunion with her step-sister Toyah.

With Leanne pregnant with Steve McDonald’s baby the sisters have a lot of catching up to do, but viewers will have to wait and see what exactly brings ‘Our Toyah’ back to Weatherfield.

Toyah was last seen on the cobbles 13 years ago in February 2003. She left Weatherfield after finding out her college lecturer boyfriend had got her friend Maria pregnant.

She has been mentioned regularly in scripts by Leanne who has visited her sister a few times.

How has Toyah changed in the past 13 years? Does she have unfinished business with certain residents? What baggage will she bring with her to Weatherfield and is she here to stay? All will be revealed this Christmas on the ITV soap.

Producer Kate Oates said:

“I am delighted that Georgia Taylor has agreed to return to the role of Toyah. She is a talented actress who has had great success since leaving the show in 2003.

“Family relationships are the lifeblood of soap operas and I am excited to explore the drama that Toyah will bring with her to the cobbles. She has led an interesting life away from Weatherfield and she has secrets she has kept even from Leanne.

“Her arrival this Christmas looks set to put the cat amongst the Coronation Street pigeons.”

Georgia Taylor said:

“I am thrilled to be re-joining my old friends on the cobbles and hugely excited to be given the opportunity to explore the character of Toyah 13 years on.

“Coronation Street has always had a place in my heart and I'm delighted to be working again with my good friend Jane Danson and bringing the Battersby sisters back together.

“The script writers and producers have come up with some fantastic, clever, and detailed story-lines that have inspired me and I feel excited to get started!”

It looks like Ken is going to have his work cut out this autumn as son Daniel and grandson Adam join Peter in returning to the Barlow fold.

Rob Mallard has been cast as Daniel, Ken’s son by Denise Osbourne, who we last saw nine years ago when Ken went to stay with the pair.

While Sam Robertson will reprise his role as Adam Barlow, the son of Ken’s late daughter Susan and Mike Baldwin, who has been living in Canada since he left Weatherfield in 2007.

Viewers will first see Ken’s troubled son, Peter Barlow, return to the street in October. But as his return sends shockwaves through the Barlow household, the family will be further shaken when Daniel and Adam join Ken, Tracy, Amy and Peter at No. 1 in November.

Rob, whose previous credits include No Offence, Fresh Meat and Emmerdale, said:

“It feels great to be starting work on Coronation Street and I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone.

"I grew up watching Coronation Street, so the chance to be in it, especially playing a part like Daniel, is very exciting.”

Sam Robertson, who also starred in E4’s Beaver Falls, said:

“I’m delighted to be back, Coronation Street was my first job as an actor and is a special place for me.

"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.”

Producer Kate Oates said:

“The Barlows have been at the centre of Coronation Street since it started in 1960 and I felt it was time to remind ourselves of the dynasty that Ken has built up over the past 50 years.

“I am excited about the dynamics of having the different generations living together and exploring the drama that will bring."

“Peter turns up first in October and almost immediately his arrival has consequences for the family. He is followed in early November by Adam and Daniel. I am delighted to have Sam back, his time away from Weatherfield has hardened Adam and although he is a Barlow the Baldwin genes are evident from the moment he arrives.

“Daniel is a different Barlow altogether, more sensitive and bookish, he is clearly a chip off the old block, but there is more to Ken’s youngest son than meets the eye. Rob is a talented young actor who is perfect for the role.”

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Les Dennis has today announced his intention to leave Coronation Street later this year in a hugely dramatic storyline.

Les joined Coronation Street in 2014 as charming house burglar, Michael Rodwell, who then began a relationship with Gail Platt after she forgave her uninvited guest.

Following a storyline about restorative justice, their romance blossomed when she got know the ‘gentle’ man behind the burglary. Softhearted Michael soon made himself at home, working as a taxi driver for Steve MacDonald and becoming a regular in the Rovers.

However, his marriage to Gail hit the rocks within hours of the nuptials when he discovered Andy had been masquerading as his son, Gavin. Michael was horrified to discover Gail had lied to him and even worse, Gavin was actually dead and she'd kept that from him too.

Angry and betrayed, Les's character fell into the arms of Gail's nemesis, Eileen. This was fairly short lived as Eileen soon replaced Michael with local builder, Pat Phelan. Michael could see Pat for what he was, but Eileen refused to see it.

Of late, Michael’s confrontations with Pat have become legendary, as he seems to be one of the very few characters on the Street who’ve got the measure of evil and conniving Phelan.

Renowned for his stage and television work, Les has become a firm favourite with fans of the soap, fellow actors and colleagues at Coronation Street’s production base in Trafford, Manchester and having achieved a long held ambition, feels excited to move on to new projects.

Of his decision Les said:

"As a lifelong fan of the show, playing Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street has been a dream come true. Becoming part of the ITV Coronation Street family has been a wonderful experience and my decision to leave was a hard one.

“Earlier this year, thanks to Coronation Street giving me a sabbatical from the show, I was thrilled to be able to produce and star in a sell-out production of Alan Bleasdale's Down the Dock Road at The Royal Court Liverpool. I always knew that the time would come when I would want the freedom to do more projects, and now feels like the right time.

“The talented team of writers and producers have come up with a very dramatic exit for Michael on the show which will be exciting to film. I’ll treasure the two and a half years I have been part of such an iconic show and move on with very fond memories, so many lovely friends and colleagues and an ambition achieved."

Coronation Street producer Kate Oates commented:

“We’re very sad to see Les leave Coronation Street as he’s an enormously popular and talented actor. He’s brought warmth, wit and integrity to the character of Michael. We have worked on giving him a great story to ensure a fantastic and dramatic end to his time on the Street. I can't wait to see it unfold!

"He will be very much missed and we wish him many successes with his new ventures."

The nation’s most successful and popular soap drama, Coronation Street, is to broadcast a sixth weekly episode from late 2017, ITV announced today.

ITV’s Director of Television, Kevin Lygo, said the news reflected the broadcaster’s commitment to high quality soap for its hugely loyal audience.

ITV Studios Managing Director of Continuing Drama and Head of ITV in the North, John
Whiston, who has responsibility for overseeing both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, said:

The plan, which was unveiled to the writers, cast and crew today, will create employment
opportunities adding a new and exciting dimension to filming the UK’s longest running soap drama.

The current layout of the set will be extended to facilitate the expansion in production, and create additional studio space on the 7.7-acre site in Trafford, Manchester. The programme currently has four operational studios, as well as the exterior lot of Coronation Street, and space has been identified on site for the creation of a further filming zone.

Voting for the TV Choice Awards shortlist is now open!

Check out which categories we've been nominated in before you vote all things Coronation Street!

Best Soap Actor: Jack P Shepherd

Best Soap Actress: Paula Lane

Best Newcomer: Shayne Ward

Voting on the shortlist will remain open until midnight on Friday 8 July.

Yes the football is on but that's not an excuse to score an own goal and miss any of the drama going on in Coronation Street.

We'll keep this page updated, so that you know what days Corrie is on through the coming weeks and don't forget - if you do miss and episode you can always catch up for free on the ITV Hub

Hour Long Episode

PICTURES: See what's coming up
ITV Hub: Catch up on Coronation Street

Voting for The Inside Soap Awards is now open!

Check out which categories we've been nominated in before you vote all things Coronation Street!

Watch out Weatherfield - there’s a new bad guy in town and what’s more he is in cahoots with Pat Phelan!

Former Where the Heart Is, Emmerdale and Doctors actor Ian Kelsey has been cast as dodgy businessman Vinny, an old associate of Phelan.

With Jason off the scene, Phelan is helping Eileen look after his business interests but he has big plans of his own - which is where property developer Vinny comes in...

Ian, who also starred in Blue Murder and Casualty, started filming today (Friday June 17th) and will be on screen from August.

It remains to be seen just what the scheming pair will get up to but it certainly spells Double Trouble for the residents of Coronation Street.

INTERVIEW: Connor McIntyre hints at what Phelan's up to now
PICTURES: What's coming up on the Street?