Linda Hancock (Jacqueline Leonard)
Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn has confirmed that the show is casting for the role of Owen Armstrong's ex-wife.
The character will be introduced in the near future as the ITV soap delves into the past of Owen and his two daughters Izzy and Katy.
Blackburn told Inside Soap: "Owen's ex-wife will be showing up in Weatherfield soon. The picture that's already been painted of her by Owen is that she was too young and couldn't cope with Izzy's disability. But that turns out not to be the whole truth and this woman has genuine regrets about what happened - the biggest one being leaving Owen!
"Her arrival is going to be a real challenge for Anna and the Armstrongs and it will give Katy some big choices to make. We're casting that role in the next few weeks."
Having previously teased that a popular face from the past will be heading back to the cobbles, Blackburn also confirmed that there may not just be one returnee.
Asked who he would like to see back, he replied: "I'm not going to answer that, because it'll be reported as a fact and then people will be disappointed if it doesn't happen! So let me just say that we have a couple of returning favourites on the cards.
"The great thing about the show is that it has a 54-year history and so many departed characters still have strong connections to the families on screen."
More changes on the cobbles will see the Nazir family move onto the Street itself.
Blackburn said: "We're taking it very gently with the Nazirs, because it takes time for the audience to get to know a new family and trust them. In the coming months we will get them moved onto the cobbles and right at the heart of things. But in order to do that, someone living on the Street currently will have to lose their home."
The show's boss also promised "two Tinker weddings" in the coming months, as well as a new love interest for Mary Taylor - but she may have to realise that Dev Alahan isn't the man for her.
Speaking of a new romance for Mary, he said: "It will happen, but not how you might imagine. Mary doesn't love Dev, but he and the kids do make her feel wanted so she's jealous of his relationship with Julie. It's vital for her to be important to someone, and not just a joke who lives in a motor home."
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.
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Originally Posted by Perdita
