Coronation Street legend makes shock return to show after 14 years – and it’s bad news for Eileen Grimshaw
EILEEN Grimshaw got a blast from the past in dramatic Coronation Street scenes.
The character – played by Sue Cleaver – has had many failed romances during her two decades in the ITV soap.
She was stunned to see her ex-boyfriend Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson) return to Weatherfield – and even more so upon learning who he was there to see.
Bosses brought back Jesse, who last appeared in 2010, as part of Gail Platt’s (Helen Worth) soap exit.
It transpired Jesse and Gail were reintroduced to each other in Thailand three years ago and have stayed in touch since.
In fact, Gail has been confiding in Jesse about some of the Platts’ biggest crises.
This includes Stephen being a serial killer and Bethany’s current cosmetic surgery nightmare.
His trip back to Coronation Street was so he could make sure Gail was doing okay.
Not long after returning, Jesse bumped into Eileen, who was less than pleased to see him.
Their previous relationship ended after he cheated with her own sister Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh).
“Just my luck you’re the first person I run into”, Jesse remarked while Eileen fired back with: “Oh, were you hoping for Julie?”
Eileen wasn’t alone, however, as Audrey (Sue Nicholls) also made it clear that she wasn’t happy with Jesse’s presence in Gail’s life.
After Gail said her mother was being rude, Jesse tried to justify her protective behaviour only for Audrey to have none of it.
“Don’t you try to crawl in my good books“, she said. “Because I’ve got your number.
“Your girlfriend and sister. Honestly, how low can you get?”
John previously revealed what’s in store for Eileen and Jeese – and it’s clear there might be tension ahead.
“He’s not really prepared to see Eileen after things ended so badly between them,” he explained.
“When Jesse left he’d been spreading his bets over two sisters, which is slightly morally bankrupt to say the least.
Gail's biggest Corrie storylines
Over the years the character of Gail Platt has been the centre of several major plots.
Here we take a look back over actress Helen Worth’s biggest storylines:
Teenage daughter’s pregnancy
One of Gail’s most controversial storylines was in 1999.
It came when her 13-year-old daughter Sarah became pregnant.
Multiple marriages
Gail holds the record for the series’ most married female character.
She has been wed a whopping six times, each one worse the last.
Married to a serial killer
One of Gail’s multiple marriages saw her wed Richard Hillman, who turned out to be a serial killer.
At the climax of the storyline, 19 million fans tuned in to watch Hillman drive his wife and her family into a canal.
Scrapping on The Street
Gail has proved over the years she can’t resist a good scrap.
Her most memorable bust-up saw her attack Eileen Grimshaw on the cobbles in 2004 while in her dressing gown.
Jail bird
In 2010, Gail found herself wrongly banged up in jail.
She was wrongfully arrested for murdering her 4th husband Joe McIntyre.
“He’s changed dramatically because he’s very remorseful for that behaviour, so for him to think that Eileen would even contemplate having him back after he made a play for her sister is not on his radar.”
He added: “I don’t think the new Jesse could possibly entertain that there would ever be anything with Eileen again because of his actions in the past.”
With Jesse now back on the scene, how will drama unfold from here?
Coronation Street airs on ITV and is available to watch on ITVX.