Coronation Street legend John Thomson set to return after Martin Platt star axed
A familiar face is set to return to Coronation Street after over a decade away from our screens. Comedian and actor John Thomson, known for playing Jesse Chadwick on the cobbles, will return to Weatherfield on Wednesday, 9 October - 14 years since he last appeared on the soap.
John’s return to Coronation Street comes just as his character’s ex, Eileen Grimshaw, returns from Thailand. However, it’s not Eileen that has prompted Jesse’s visit. Instead, he is looking for Gail Rodwell. It's revealed that they met each other while travelling a few years ago, with Jesse paying a visit to his friend after hearing that Gail’s granddaughter Bethany had nearly died after contracting sepsis.
Having first appeared on the Coronation Street cobbles back in 2008, John, 55, became a familiar face on our screens before departing from the soap in 2010. Speaking of his return to the ITV show, the comedian explained that he was “really happy” to be saying hello to Weatherfield.
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“I was really happy to get the call, it was always a case of never say never, but it came in between jobs for me so the timing was perfect. I have a young daughter so I don’t like to travel too far from home and although the last time I was in the show was 15 years ago it has felt like meeting up with an old friend you haven’t seen for a long time and the years just melt away,” he explained.
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And having spent almost 15 years away from Coronation Street, John joked that he was “shell shocked” when he returned to filming. But, having said that, he added that everyone had made him feel welcome upon his return.
“I was a bit shell shocked when I first came in because I’d forgotten the speed of the turnaround so it was an absolute baptism of fire. But everyone in the Platts has made me feel so welcome. I just feel secure and proper looked after,” he continued.
“Helen and I are absolutely thrilled to be working together, everyone’s good company and there’s always fun to be had on set with the Platts which is great. It was a bit like crank handle starting a car after all these years but the laughs have got us through.”
John’s return comes after former Coronation Street star Sean Wilson broke his silence following his unexpected departure from the ITV soap. The Martin Platt actor took to social media earlier this month where he wrote: “Thanks for all the love xxx”, alongside a snap of some lights which spelled out the word ‘love’.