Coronation Street fans, brace yourselves – Weatherfield is entering a season of sweeping changes, with beloved characters saying heartfelt goodbyes, shocking reappearances on the horizon, and new storylines set to break hearts and stir up old secrets. With multiple returns, dramatic exits, and eerie twists, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most unforgettable years the cobbles have seen in recent memory.

This year has already witnessed a number of major character exits. Max Turner, played by Paddy Bever, is now behind bars after receiving a six-year prison sentence, marking a dramatic departure for the troubled teen. Yasmeen Metcalfe (Shelley King) has also stepped away from Weatherfield, opting for a fresh start in London. And just recently, Charlotte Jordan’s Daisy Midgeley left the cobbles, making Friday’s episode an emotional one for viewers.

But the departures aren’t stopping there – more exits are expected, some tragic and others mysterious. Yet, amid the heartbreak, there’s also a buzz of excitement as several familiar faces prepare to return, some for fleeting moments, others for longer arcs. Here’s everything we know so far about who’s leaving, who’s returning, and how it will all unfold.

Returnees: Old Faces Reemerge

First up, fans will be delighted to see Jason Grimshaw back on the street. Ryan Thomas is stepping back into the role after a nine-year absence, returning briefly as part of his on-screen mother Sue Cleaver’s exit storyline. Thomas revealed that it was Cleaver herself who reached out to him, and he couldn’t resist the opportunity, especially with his children now old enough to watch him on Corrie. His return is expected within the next month.

In a longer-term return, Eva Price (played by Catherine Tyldesley) is set to come back full-time, reigniting storylines that have lain dormant since her exit in 2018. Viewers will remember Eva’s emotional departure after Aidan Connor’s suicide, when she left with daughter Susie. Now, her storyline is being teased as “unmissable” and is slated to begin filming this summer. How her return will affect Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) remains to be seen – especially if Susie is with her.

A truly unexpected return will come in the form of Joel Deering, despite the fact that the character was killed off last September. Played by Calum Lill, Joel met a grim end after Lauren Bolton struck him and pushed him from a viaduct. But Corrie is known for playing with timelines and the supernatural, so it’s expected that his reappearance – likely in the form of flashbacks or hallucinations – will haunt characters like Lauren or Dee-Dee Bailey. This ghostly comeback will take place within the next two months.

Also due for a re-entry is Christina Boyd, portrayed by Amy Robbins. Though Christina just exited the series, her villainous streak is far from over. She was last seen teaming up with her daughter Daisy in a scheme to con Jenny Connor using a fake dating profile. Her return date hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it’s clear she’ll be back to stir up more trouble.

Then there’s Gail Chadwick. While her departure seemed definitive, Coronation Street executive producer Iain MacLeod hinted that Helen Worth, who plays Gail, might not be gone for good. The door is very much open for Gail’s return during any major Platt family developments – giving fans hope that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of her.

Producer Kate Brooks has also teased other comebacks, though she’s keeping the details under wraps. Her only hint? “A few people will be returning to the street to cause their own forms of chaos.” With Corrie, that could mean anything – from scandalous affairs to secret identities or long-lost family members turning up unexpectedly.

Exits: Emotional Farewells Ahead

Among the most devastating developments this year will be the upcoming departure of Debbie Webster. Played by Sue Devaney, Debbie is facing a heartbreaking end as she begins to battle dementia – a storyline that promises to be both powerful and emotional. Having first appeared on the show in 1984, Debbie’s exit is poised to be one of the standout plots of the year.

Producers are dedicating significant time to portraying her journey with the illness, ensuring a thoughtful and sensitive narrative. Sources close to the show reveal that her storyline will be deeply moving, and possibly one of the most memorable character exits in the show’s long history. Sue Devaney is expected to receive much-deserved spotlight as Debbie’s condition progresses, culminating in a farewell that will be both poignant and unforgettable.

What Lies Ahead

As 2025 unfolds, Coronation Street is embracing its legacy of blending the emotional with the sensational. Long-lost characters returning for closure or chaos, devastating illnesses, mysterious visions from the grave – the upcoming months promise a whirlwind of drama. With executive producer Kate Brooks at the helm, the show is clearly steering into bolder, more emotionally resonant territory.

While the specifics of each character’s storyline remain closely guarded, the tone is clear: fans should expect the unexpected. Whether it’s a ghost from the past, a villain resurfacing for revenge, or a beloved family member slowly fading away, Corrie continues to deliver the gripping, heartfelt drama that has made it a staple of British television for decades.