Coronation Street has quite the exciting year in store by all accounts, with the recent the news that the soap will soon air six times a week and the return of some former major characters.
One such character that will undoubtedly bring trouble to the cobbles is Peter Barlow, who just today has been confirmed to be returning to Weatherfield. Chris Gascoyne will reprise his role as the womanising Peter with new producer Kate Oates set on bringing the Barlows back to the forefront of the show.
Former Emmerdale producer Oates has taken over from Corrie's Stuart Blackburn with her first episodes set to air in August, and she has big plans for the cobbles.
Not only will Peter be returning, but also two other members of the family, Adam Barlow and Ken's son Daniel Osbourne, who has yet to be cast.
Speaking at a press event for Corrie today, Oates said;
"One of the things I am most excited about and something I consider a real privilege is that I am lucky enough to work on the longest-running soap.
"One of the longest-running families on that soap is the Barlows, and why would you not want to strengthen that family?
"I love the idea of Ken as the head of the family which has Tracy, Simon and Amy here currently. I am excited to bring Peter back to the show.
"I am delighted to meet Daniel Osbourne, who is Ken's child with Denise, and I am excited to bring back Adam, who is Mike Baldwin's son and Ken's grandson.
"I think that strong family dynasty – the first family on the soap, as it were – here, big, strong and sending ripples through the Street, is really exciting, and I am really looking forward to seeing that."
Peter Barlow left Weatherfield back in 2014, but returned last year for Deirdre's (Anne Kirkbride) funeral and is still regularly referred to as his son Simon is still in the soap living with step-mum Leanne.
On Chris's return, Oates said: "We've always been in touch, he has always kept strong links with us and so it felt like an organic thing. Knowing as I did that I was coming here, there were a few things I wanted to do and obviously it was a shame that both Ali King (Carla) and Paula Lane (Kylie) had made the decision to go.
"You do think, 'I would like to work with that character and that character', and Peter is always one you want to work with. He has got such an amazing presence and such a great energy on screen. Everybody here loves him too."
No doubt Peter will find himself immersed in some sort of Corrie love triangle soon, or at the very least keep that son Simon of his in check.
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