Louis Emerick is to return to ‘Coronation Street’.
The former ‘Brookside’ star graced the cobbles with his presence earlier this year as he made his debut as Liz McDonald’s (Beverley Callard) love interest Mike Thornberry, and new producer Iain MacLeod has re-hired Louis for a "major storyline" following his initial three months in Weatherfield.
A TV source said: "Producer Iain MacLeod felt that Louis’s character had more to give and wants to involve him in a major storyline.
"Producers want to test the water and see if he could be a more permanent fixture."
As well as striking up a brief romance with Mike, Liz was also recently romantically involved with new Rovers Return landlord Johnny Connor (Richard Hawley) – and Mike is set to divulge the pair’s infidelity in front of the former factory boss’ new punters.
The source added to The Sun’s Bizarre TV column: "His character Mike will reveal the extent of Liz’s affair with married Johnny Connor in the Rovers Return to a room-full of shocked locals."
Louis is currently touring with stage production ‘The Full Monty’, but will begin filming on ‘Corrie’ next month.
News of Louis’ return will not come as too much of a surprise to die-hard ‘Corrie’ fans, after he previously dropped a huge hint he might reprise his role at some point.
In response to a fan who appeared to be blaming Corrie’s former series producer Kate Oates for his short stint on the show, Louis replied: "to be fair to #KateOates I knew the deal when I joined,and hey,the door will be left open, #MikeThornberry ain’t ready to give up on Liz yet x (sic)"
He also tweeted another fan: "i was only on a 3month contract! (sic)"
Ahead of making his debut as Mike in the soap, Louis was hit with a bout of nerves while shooting scenes in the fictional boozer.
He told BANG Showbiz: "As I was waiting outside to go into the Rovers I couldn’t tell you how nervous I was. I was pacing up and down, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Come on Louis, you’ve been doing this for 30 years.’
"But it’s going into the Rovers.
"Even though it’s changed location you still get that sense of nervousness because of all the people who have stepped foot in there before.
"Take away the nerves, you felt like you were standing on holy ground."
Louis Emerick ‘returning to Coronation Street’
