ITV’s Coronation Street bosses are said to have tried to get the star to return on a few occasions but, after a long stint away, they are poised for a big comeback this year

ITV soap Coronation Street is set to welcome back one of the soap’s biggest stars after years away – and fans are convinced they’ve worked out how she will return.

Soap actress Catherine Tyldesley, who played Eva Price on the show before leaving seven years ago, is reportedly set to make a big return in scenes which will air later this year.

Catherine, 41, played Eva from 2011 before her departure from Weatherfield in 2018. And now, after seven years away working on many other TV shows including The Good Ship Murder, Scarborough and Viewpoint, Catherine is set to reprise her role as Eva, according to reports.

Details of her returning storyline are yet to be revealed but the source claimed it’s “definitely not going to be a storyline to miss”. And the reports have sparked fans to look into theories around how Eva will make her comeback.

Eva, who was known for her dramatic storylines and steamy romances, left Weatherfield to move to France with her mum Stella Price (Michelle Collins), following the death of Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward). And now, fans are convinced Eva could follow in her mum Stella’s footsteps by taking over the Rovers Return Inn.

One fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I reckon Eva Price is going to end up being the one to buy the pub back off Jenny, Carla and Daisy.” Another added: “I reckon Miss Eva Price is going to end up being the one to buy the pub.”

A third person agreed: “I have a strange feeling one landlady will be swapped for the other. Do you think Eva could get back behind the Rovers bar?”

It has been claimed Catherine will start filming with the ITV soap this summer ready for scenes to air in the autumn. A source has said: “Cath has been away for a while and worked on countless other projects but she really missed Corrie.

“They’ve tried to get her back a few times but the stars have never aligned.”

“But when she was approached with the idea for Eva’s return, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up,” the insider told The Sun as they added that Catherine is “so excited” to get back onto the Cobbles.

Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this year Daisy Midgeley, who works as a barmaid at the pub, is set to leave Corrie this year.

The Mirror exclusively revealed recently her scenes were likely to wrap up late summer or around September time, with a character returning in spring as part of Daisy’s exit storyline. We also revealed two key things that could lead to the departure, and two characters that would be involved in Daisy’s final plot on the ITV soap.

Could Eva play a part in Daisy’s exit? Fans will have to wait a while to find out!