Ryan Thomas is back in Coronation Street tonight as Jason Grimshaw, but why did he leave in the first place and why is he back on the ITV soap?

Ryan alongside his co-stars Gareth and Sue(Image: ITV)

Ryan Thomas is back on the Coronation Street cobbles – nine years after Jason Grimshaw left for Thailand. The Corrie legend is back tonight, reprising his role as Jason after nearly a decade.

Ryan is back on the Cobbles amid a huge exit storyline for his mum Eileen Grimshaw, as actress Sue Cleaver quits her role on the soap after decades playing the iconic character. He returns tonight – but for a very specific reason.

“He’s struggling for money, his girlfriend left him, and he needs his mum. He says he’s come back for Eileen, but he really needs a cuddle and his safety net,” he tells us of his character’s decision to come back.

Ryan admitted he felt nervous about his return and it was a “shock to the system” being back. He said: “I couldn’t sleep the night before. Even though I’d been there half my life, I felt like the new kid at school. It took me half a day to get rid of the nerves. It was a bit of a shock to the system at first. I even went on YouTube to rewatch old scenes and got nervous.

Jason is back from Thailand!(Image: ITV)

“He’s embraced the Thai way of life. I wanted to come back in the builder’s outfit, but it made sense that he’s in a different phase of his life now. He is all linen trousers and bracelets and beads. It gives you a feel of this older Jason whose life is away from the Cobbles.”

Fans will be no doubt hoping that Jason might be making a permanent return to the show – but sadly, it has been confirmed his return will just be a brief stint to help Coronation Street fans say goodbye to Eileen.

“It was a mix of nostalgia and gratitude for what the show has done for me. When they told me Eileen was leaving, it felt right to be a part of that storyline for her and revisit where it all started,” he said.

Ryan says he has “no regrets” about coming back and admits it was “real fun” stepping into the character once again.

“I have no regrets. It’s been the perfect storyline and a real memory I can cherish. It felt like the old days, we’ve all been in the canteen, having lunch together and I had real fun,” he said of his return.

The specifics of Jason’s return are being kept under wraps – and how long he stays. He had originally left all the way back in 2016. At the time, he called his decision a big risk.

“It’s a risk to leave a show like Coronation Street. I was in a bubble for 16 years. I love the place, it feels like home and I miss people there. But I really enjoy my time out of Corrie, getting to do new things. There’s a time to spread your wings and I felt like that was the time for me. I was ready,” he told The Mirror about his decision to leave.