Coronation Street fans spot plan to 'save' soap as they plead for 'more' after announcement

Amid a series of departure announcements, Coronation Street fans have claimed to have spotted plans to 'save' the show after a huge return announcement.

A trail of exits which actually began in December with the departure of soap icon Helen Worth. As fans of the ITV soap know, the actress made the decision to bow out of Weatherfield having celebrated 50 years of playing Gail Platt. Helen shared a statement last summer confirming the news before her exit was aired during Corrie's Christmas Day episode.

Since then, Sue Cleaver has also announced her plans to wave goodbye to Weatherfield after 25 years in the role of Eileen Grimshaw. She said: “I’ve had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street. The door is still firmly open, but as I reached my 60th year I decided it was time to embrace change, look for new adventures and live fearlessly."

More recently, actress Charlotte Jordan has confirmed that she will be bowing out of the ITV soap this year after four years in the role of Daisy Midgeley. Confirmation of Charlotte's exit comes after Colson Smith confirmed he was told he is being axed this year as he marks 14 years playing Craig Tinker.

But amidst the exits, an announcement of a familiar face's return has delighted fans. It's been confirmed that Julie Carp will be back on the cobbles next month, after almost 10 years away from Weatherfield. Julie is set to surprise her sister Eileen Grimshaw with actress Katy Cavanagh reprising the role. She has already begun filming and Julie will arrive back onto the famous street on February 21.

Julie first arrived in Weatherfield in 2008 after a holiday romance with Kirk Sutherland. The relationship didn’t work out and when Julie set her sights on Jason Grimshaw her mum was forced to tell her that she was in fact Eileen’s half sister and Jason’s aunt. After a brief fling with Eileen’s then boyfriend Jessie Chadwick, Julie found love with Newsagent Brian Packham and they left the street together in 2015. But they split and Brian eventually returned without her.

Julie’s return will be part of Sue Cleaver’s exit storyline in late spring. Sue recently revealed she has decided to bid farewell to the cobbles after 25 years playing Eileen. Eileen and Todd are delighted to be reunited with Julie but what is behind her decision to return to Weatherfield? How long is she planning on staying and how will former partner Brian Packham feel about her arrival?

Corrie fans, meanwhile, have been reacting to the news. @soaps_editzz cheered: "YES CORRIE!!" @helen.l.wild said: "More like axed like the others." @sal51.51 commented: "Aww yes! Loved Julie, some happy news!" @jessiequeenofroblox wrote: "This is what we need to save Corrie!!! More of this please."

@junipericeglitter posted: "Yasssss a fantastic character returning, wonderful." @matthew.halloran.568 shared: "OMG Fantastic News I Always Hoped she would Come Back one Day." @balmoral_girl added: "Exciting! Can’t wait to have her back!"