Hollyoaks’ Mandy Richardson and Luke Morgan will make their return as a couple.
The loveable pair weren’t together when Sarah Jayne Dunn – who portrays the blonde bombshell – left the soap six years ago, but she has revealed fans will be in for a shock when she and her former flame (played by Gary Lucy) head back to Chester.
Speaking on ‘This Morning’ on Thursday (20.07.17), Sarah said: "I didn’t know Gary was coming back. I got my script and one of my first scenes was Mandy and Luke and I was like: ‘No way is this Luke!’ So I texted Gary straight away and said: ‘Oh my God you’re going back. This is so exciting.’ So the two of us back together.
"They are back together. I can tell you that much. They’re a couple. Mandy and Luke return together. Six years is a long time – Gary has been away from the show even longer – so there’s a lot of story telling to do."
However, although bosses are keen to have the Mandy back fans "know and love", the 35-year-old actress has admitted her alter-ego has fallen on harder times.
She explained: "She’s fallen on harder times – she’s going through a tough time … She’s a headstrong character and what’s really nice about this return is that we really want to go back to Mandy – the Mandy we all know and love. We need to find that."
Sarah has done numerous things since she walked away from the show over half a decade ago, but she "jumped" at the chance to reprise her role when she was contacted by the producer Bryan Kirkwood earlier this year.
She said: "A split second, I jumped at the chance. Bryan Kirkwood was back at the helm – our producer – and he’s so passionate about the show and when they talked to me about the storylines they’ve got planned for Mandy, I just couldn’t not go back.
Sarah and Gary – who quit the programme 15 years ago – will be back on screen as Mandy and Luke, who were teenager lovers, from next week.
She added: "Back on screen next Monday. It’s really nice to have a character that’s so full and that’s been through so much."
Hollyoaks’ Mandy Richardson and Luke Morgan back together
