Jesse Chadwick will soon return to Coronation Street in the wake of Bethany Platt’s ordeal over in Turkey – but could there be more to his comeback?
Actor John Thomson was first introduced as the electrician and children’s entertainer in December, 2008, before becoming a regular character in 2009 and dating Corrie veteran Eileen Grimshaw, played by Sue Cleaver, who will most likely have a lot to say about him cosying up to her arch nemesis Gail.
The pair were once romantically linked when Jesse rocked up Weatherfield but their relationship ended when he was caught with Eileen’s half-sister Julie Carp and the pair chased him out of the Rovers Return Inn, before he eventually packed his things and fled Corrie.
But with his sudden return come many suspicions about his true motives, while Gail is happy to have her travelling buddy by her side. Could tensions also be sparked with Eileen once again? And will he be the reason Gail eventually leaves Coronation Street after actress Helen Worth quit the ITV soap?
Jesse Chadwick returns to Coronation Street next week
It all begins when Eileen herself returns to the cobbles from Thailand, when she bumps into her ex-boyfriend Jesse. She’s stunned to find out that he came back with the intention of seeing Gail.
The Weatherfield veteran, who made her Corrie debut five decades ago, arrives back on the Street and she is just as shocked to see Jesse greet her. She then reveals to Eileen that the pair had met years back in Thailand. As Jesse insists he showed up to check Gail was okay, she ushers him into No.8, leaving Eileen with many questions.
Much like Eileen, the Platts are all baffled with Jesse’s arrival and the returning character starts off his second stint on the cobbles with a huge faux pas when he spots Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) chatting to Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) about Damon Hay’s hidden money.
Jesse puts his foot in his mouth when he states he recognises Adam from Sarah’s wedding pictures. After meeting Jesse in the café, Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) urges Sarah and David (Tina O’Brien and Jack P Shepherd) to sit down and talk to him. But will they agree? Elsewhere, Jesse catches up with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) over a pint and opens up on why he’s really here. Could something sinister be looming?
John Thomson claimed his Coronation Street comeback after 14 years has been a real whirlwind and he said of his first few days back on the show: “I was a bit shell-shocked because I’d forgotten the speed of the turnaround, so it was an absolute baptism of fire. But everyone has made me feel so welcome. I just feel secure and proper looked after.
“Helen and I are absolutely thrilled to be working together, and everyone is good company. It was a bit like a crank handle starting a car after all these years but the laughs have got us through.”
The actor accepted the role after Sean Wilson, who previously played Gail’s husband Martin Platt, left the set after just a couple of days. John said Ben Price, who plays Nick Tilsley, had teased him about not being able to keep up with the pace.
He revealed: “Ben said to me, ‘You do know we’re all always word perfect, don’t you?’ and I thought, ‘Oh no,’ but thank God he was winding me up. My ability to learn lines at speed is getting better and better again so it’s not as daunting as it was.”
