Sean Wilson is to reprise his role as Martin Platt on Coronation Street as a part of Helen Worth's upcoming exit storyline.
Earlier this month Worth announced that she will be leaving the soap later this year, having played the part of Gail Rodwell since 1974.
Gail is notoriously unlucky in love and has had five husbands - four of whom have died, including her third husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), who was exposed as a serial killer.
The most successful of her marriages was to Martin in the '90s, although they split up after he cheated with a colleague and he subsequently left the street after 20 years in 2005.
Martin made a brief comeback in 2018 to help his son David (Jack P Shepherd), but then emigrated to New Zealand with new wife Robyn and their daughter Charlotte.
However, The Sun says that Martin will soon be back in Weatherfield and ends up rekindling his romance with his former wife before they leave the street together.
"A number of options were considered for Gail's departure from the cobbles but bosses knew the moment needed to truly celebrate one of Corrie's most iconic characters as well as honour Helen's astonishing run on the soap," a source told the newspaper.
"It just didn't sit right to kill her off or have Gail suffer more tragedy after, let's face it, a pretty traumatic life.
"Martin was always considered the one that got away and bosses are thrilled they've been able to tempt Sean back to wave Gail goodbye.
"The plotline has many nuances, twists and turns but script writers all want this to feel like a gorgeous end of Gail's story, with her finally finding her happy ending."
The storyline will culminate over the Christmas period.
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