After nearly a decade away from Coronation Street, Ryan Thomas is making a dramatic and heartfelt return to the iconic ITV soap — and the emotional motivation behind it may surprise fans. The actor, who first stepped onto the cobbles as builder Jason Grimshaw in 2000, exited the show in 2016 after a successful 16-year run. Now, at 40 years old, Ryan has decided to step back into Jason’s steel-capped boots, and it’s all because of one special person: Sue Cleaver, the actress behind his on-screen mum, Eileen Grimshaw.

Speaking candidly in a recent interview, Ryan shared the real reason behind his comeback. For him, it was less about reclaiming the spotlight and more about paying tribute to a woman who had become like a second mother to him both on and off screen. With Sue set to bow out of Coronation Street after a remarkable 25 years, Ryan felt compelled to be part of her exit storyline — a decision driven by gratitude, nostalgia, and deep affection.

“When they told me Eileen was leaving,” Ryan explained, “it felt right to be a part of that storyline for her and revisit where it all started.” His emotional pull toward the show wasn’t just tied to the character of Eileen, but to the years of memories, friendships, and growth that Coronation Street provided him. For Ryan, this wasn’t just a job — it was home.

Despite being away from acting for several years, Ryan confessed to experiencing unexpected nerves as his return approached. “I couldn’t sleep the night before,” he admitted, adding that even after so many years on the show, he felt like “the new kid at school.” He even found himself watching old clips of his character on YouTube in an effort to mentally prepare. Yet once on set, the jitters faded. The familiarity of the script, the environment, and the people made his transition back surprisingly smooth. “Everything about the script made it easy for me,” Ryan shared, suggesting that slipping back into Jason’s shoes was like riding a bike — once you’ve done it for so long, the rhythm never really leaves you.

Ryan’s return also comes amid major changes and challenges behind the scenes at Coronation Street. ITV is currently facing a financial crunch, and the long-running soap has seen a string of notable exits. Colson Smith, who portrayed Craig Tinker for 14 years, is one of several stars being written out of the show. His character’s departure will follow that of Beth Tinker (played by Lisa George), who exited the series in summer 2024.

Perhaps the most significant goodbye, however, is that of Sue Cleaver. Her portrayal of Eileen Grimshaw has been a cornerstone of Coronation Street for over two decades. While her character won’t be killed off — leaving the door open for a possible return — her departure marks the end of an era. Ryan’s willingness to return for her send-off underscores the deep bond they share. According to a production source, “She’s like a second mum to him, and he was willing to do anything to make her send-off as special as it deserves to be.”

Other recent exits include Luca Toolan (Mason Radcliffe), whose character met a violent fate, and Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster), who is set to be killed off in a heartbreaking storyline involving dementia. Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley) and Shelley King (Yasmeen Metcalfe) have also filmed their final scenes, signaling a period of significant transition for the soap.

Ryan’s comeback also marks a return to acting after stepping away from the craft entirely. He has been open about losing his passion for acting in the years following his Corrie departure, citing the emotional toll of constant rejection during auditions. “It’s hard for me,” he once said on the podcast Mancs on the Mic, “I started off acting, I started off in that game, and I really lost the bug for it.”

However, Ryan didn’t disappear from the spotlight. He thrived in reality television, winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 and Dancing on Ice in 2024. Most recently, he co-hosted the competitive game show 99 to Beat with his younger brother, Adam Thomas. Though he found success in these ventures, it’s clear that Coronation Street still holds a special place in his heart.

This return, even if temporary, is more than just a nostalgic cameo — it’s a gesture of love, loyalty, and full-circle storytelling. It’s a rare example of an actor coming back not to relaunch a career, but to honor someone else’s legacy. Whether Jason Grimshaw will stay longer than a few episodes remains to be seen, but fans can expect a moving and memorable reappearance that pays tribute to one of Weatherfield’s most enduring matriarchs.

As Coronation Street faces a changing of the guard, Ryan Thomas’s return serves as a poignant reminder of the deep bonds formed on set and the real-life emotions behind the characters we grow to love. For longtime viewers, Jason’s comeback is more than just a plot twist — it’s a heartfelt goodbye to Eileen Grimshaw, told through the eyes of a son who never really left home.