Catherine Tyldesley says she’d return to Coronation Street if the opportunity arose

Catherine Tyldesley has admitted she would return to Coronation Street if the opportunity arose.

On Wednesday’s edition of Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4, Steph McGovern asked the ex-Corrie star whether she would ever go back to the cobbles.

Catherine said: ‘I’ve been a fan since I was a little girl. Of course, at some point… I’m really enjoying doing different projects and, touch wood, I’m really busy at the moment but Corrie is so close to my heart.

‘If the opportunity came up in the future, absolutely.’

Catherine played Eva Price on the show from June 2011 until August 2018.

Speaking to The Sun about her departure at the time, she said: ‘Coronation Street has been a dream job for me which is why this was such a difficult decision to leave. 

‘Eva has been such fun to play over the last seven years, and who knows, one day she might storm the cobbles of Weatherfield again. In the meantime I’m excited about the future, new acting projects, and spending time with my family.’ 

The character was not killed off, with the door open to return.

The actress also recounted a moment on the famous Manchester set when she thought her granddad was sending her a message from beyond the grave.

She remembered: ‘I had one of the big outdoor coats on and I found a feather… I turned to [co-star] Shayne Ward and I went “it’s my granddad!” And he went “you’ve got a hole in your coat”.

‘Apparently, I’d been leaking feathers all day. He said “I wasn’t going to tell you, it’s not your granddad!”‘

Catherine was appearing on Steph’s Packed Lunch to promote her self-penned play, The Ceremony, which is currently streaming online.

She told Steph about the experience of writing it, saying: ‘It’s been brilliant, a great opportunity to raise money for the arts. We’ve somehow managed to assemble the most incredible cast and a brilliant director.

‘I feel like I’m on cloud nine at the moment. It’s so lovely.’

And asked what it has been like to go from actress to playwright, she replied: ‘Terrifying!’

She explained: ‘When I was giving people scripts, I was like “I think it’s funny… but maybe I’m just sat at home laughing at my own jokes.”

‘Luckily, they found it funny and luckily the audience who have watched it already have been finding it funny, they’re really enjoying it.’

Steph’s Packed Lunch airs weekdays at 12.30PM on Channel 4.