Coronation Street star Katy Cavanagh finally arrived back on the cobbles after ten years off screens to reprise her role as Julie Carp.
The actress, 51, made a shock appearance in Tuesday night’s episode as Eileen Grimshaw’s sister, after leaving the ITV soap in 2015.
Todd was stunned to see his aunt in the hotel for the singles Tea Dance, declaring: ‘I don’t believe it, Julie!’
While she replied: ‘Todd! Look at you! I still can’t believe you’re here.’
But after joining Todd and George Shuttleworth for a drink, it became obvious that Julie was hiding something.
The two men filled her in on everything that had been going on in Weatherford and George went to call Eileen to meet them.
However, Julie panicked and stopped him, exclaiming: ‘No, don’t!’ before hurriedly explaining: ‘I’ll make a beeline for her tomorrow.
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she’s hiding a huge secret Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she’s hiding a huge secret](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/21/93875111-14263477-Coronation_Street_fans_will_be_delighted_to_see_a_familiar_face_-a-4_1736371478675.jpg)
Coronation Street star Katy Cavanagh finally arrived back on the cobbles after ten years off screens to reprise her role as Julie Carp
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she's hiding a huge secret 2 The actress, 51, made a shock appearance in Tuesday night's episode as Eileen Grimshaw¿s sister (pictured) after leaving the ITV soap in 2015](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/19/19/95379051-14414459-image-a-24_1739991945321.jpg)
The actress, 51, made a shock appearance in Tuesday night’s episode as Eileen Grimshaw’s sister (pictured) after leaving the ITV soap in 2015
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she's hiding a huge secret 3 Todd was stunned to see his aunt in the hotel for the singles Tea Dance, declaring: 'I don¿t believe it, Julie!' While she replied: 'Todd! Look at you! I still can¿t believe you¿re here' (seen)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/19/19/95379049-14414459-image-a-25_1739991978899.jpg)
Todd was stunned to see his aunt in the hotel for the singles Tea Dance, declaring: ‘I don’t believe it, Julie!’ While she replied: ‘Todd! Look at you! I still can’t believe you’re here’ (seen)
‘I want proper quality time with her. I’ve got a work meeting first thing and I’m already a bit tiddly.
‘We’d end up gassing all night completely sloshed. Once I’ve got my work meeting over then I can focus on her, one hundred per cent.’
However, in a suspicious turn she then agreed to stay for another drink with Todd and George, saying: ‘Oh go on then, I am having such a lovely time’.
But she later asked Todd to make sure he wouldn’t mention that she was back to his mother and brushed off George’s attempts to arrange a brunch reunion for her and Eileen.
After saying goodbye, viewers then saw that Julie had no intentions of seeing Eileen or staying any longer in Weatherfield.
Dialling a number on her phone, she could be seen saying: ‘Hello Julie Carp here. I’d like to be picked up at 9am tomorrow from the Chariot Square Hotel. For Manchester Piccadilly. Thanks.’
But what is Julie hiding and why doesn’t she want to see her own sister?
Katy’s long-awaited return to Weatherfield was announced last month, with Julie set to be part of Sue Cleaver’s exit storyline as Eileen in late spring.
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she's hiding a huge secret 4 But after joining Todd and George Shuttleworth for a drink, it became obvious that Julie was hiding something and avoiding her sister Eileen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/19/19/95379047-14414459-image-a-26_1739991993986.jpg)
But after joining Todd and George Shuttleworth for a drink, it became obvious that Julie was hiding something and avoiding her sister Eileen
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she's hiding a huge secret 5 Katy's long-awaited return to Weatherfield was announced last month, with Julie set to be part of Sue Cleaver's exit storyline as Eileen in late spring (pictured with Eileen in 2011)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/19/19/95380363-14414459-Katy_s_long_awaited_return_to_Weatherfield_was_announced_last_mo-m-32_1739992366082.jpg)
Katy’s long-awaited return to Weatherfield was announced last month, with Julie set to be part of Sue Cleaver’s exit storyline as Eileen in late spring (pictured with Eileen in 2011)
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she's hiding a huge secret 6 Sue recently revealed she has decided to bid farewell to the cobbles after 25 years playing the iconic character of Eileen to pursue new acting projects (pictured in September)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/21/93742731-14263477-Sue_who_plays_the_iconic_Eileen_is_leaving_the_ITV_soap_to_pursu-a-8_1736371478696.jpg)
Sue recently revealed she has decided to bid farewell to the cobbles after 25 years playing the iconic character of Eileen to pursue new acting projects (pictured in September)
Sue recently revealed she has decided to bid farewell to the cobbles after 25 years playing the iconic character of Eileen to pursue new acting projects.
Speaking about her return, Katy gushed: ‘It is exciting to dust off Julie’s quirky wardrobe again and an absolute joy to step back onto the cobbles. Julie is so much fun, I’ve missed her.’
While producer Kate Brooks added: ‘We’re delighted to have the inimitable Julie Carp back on the Cobbles.
‘As the ever lovable Julie breezes back into the lives of the Grinshaws, not everything is quite as it seems, and Julie’s secret sets off a chain of events that has huge ramifications for Eileen.
‘Katy has slipped back into Julie’s shoes with such ease that it’s like she’s never been away, and we can’t wait for the audience to watch Julie’s story unfold; a story full of love, laughter and tears.’
Julie first arrived in Weatherfield in 2008 after a holiday romance with Kirk Sutherland.
The relationship didn’t work out and when Julie set her sights on Jason Grimshaw her mum was forced to tell her that she was in fact Eileen’s half sister and Jason’s aunt.
After a brief fling with Eileen’s then boyfriend Jesse Chadwick, Julie found love with Newsagent Brian Packham and they left the street together in 2015.
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she's hiding a huge secret 7 Julie first arrived in Weatherfield in 2008 and later found love with Newsagent Brian Packham and they left the street together in 2015 (pictured together in 2010)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/19/19/95380337-14414459-image-a-30_1739992241443.jpg)
Julie first arrived in Weatherfield in 2008 and later found love with Newsagent Brian Packham and they left the street together in 2015 (pictured together in 2010)
However they then split and Brian eventually returned to the cobbles without her.
Sue’s exit storylines have already being filmed, ready for her to leave Corrie in late spring, but it has already been revealed that she she won’t be killed off, leaving the door open for a possible return in the future.
Announcing her departure, the star -who is also a regular panelist on Loose Women -said: ‘I’ve had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street.
‘The door is still firmly open but as I reached my 60th year, I decided it was time to embrace change, look for new adventures and live fearlessly.’
Sue previously took a break from Corrie last year to star in Sister Act The Musical as Mother Superior and also headed Down Under to compete in the 2022 series of I’m A Celebrity.
The soap’s new boss Kate Brooks shared the team’s sadness to see Sue go as she said: ‘We’re sad to bid farewell to the wonderful Sue Cleaver.
‘Over the past twenty five years, Eileen Grimshaw has been at the heart of some of the most memorable and iconic Corrie storylines, and her onscreen rivalry with Gail Platt will undoubtedly go down in Corrie folklore.
‘There’s certainly no one quite like Eileen, and her character will be hugely missed on the Cobbles. We wish Sue all the very best as she embarks on her next exciting chapter.’
Sue’s character Eileen has had a dramatic time on the soap and is perhaps best known for her iconic on-screen rivalry with Gail Platt as well as her marriage to serial killer Pat Phelan.
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she's hiding a huge secret 8 Sue's exit storylines have already being filmed, ready for her to leave Corrie in late spring, but it has already been revealed that she she won't be killed off, leaving the door open for a possible return in the future (pictured on soap in June)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/19/19/95380453-14414459-image-a-31_1739992334292.jpg)
Sue’s exit storylines have already being filmed, ready for her to leave Corrie in late spring, but it has already been revealed that she she won’t be killed off, leaving the door open for a possible return in the future (pictured on soap in June)
![Coronation Street star makes long-awaited return to soap after a decade away but she's hiding a huge secret 9 Sue's character Eileen has had a dramatic time on the soap and is perhaps best known for her iconic on-screen rivalry with Gail Platt (pictured) as well as her marriage to serial killer Pat Phelan](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/21/93742729-14263477-Sue_s_character_Eileen_has_had_a_dramatic_time_on_the_soap_and_i-a-7_1736371478677.jpg)
Sue’s character Eileen has had a dramatic time on the soap and is perhaps best known for her iconic on-screen rivalry with Gail Platt (pictured) as well as her marriage to serial killer Pat Phelan