Coronation Street’s most famous serial killer is making a comeback.
Notorious murderer Richard Hillman is returning, but this time round, he will be back as a ghost, according to the Sun.
Soap bosses are said to have secretly brought back the original TV actor, Brian Capron, to reprise his iconic character.
His comeback, after a 21-year hiatus, is believed to be for Gail Platt’s exit as he tried to kill Gail, played by Helen Worth, and her children Sarah (Tina O’Brien) and David (Jack P Shepherd).
Richard kidnapped the three of them and Sarah’s daughter and drove them into a canal, where he drowned, but the others survived.
A source told the publication: ‘It’s a huge coup — and the first time a character has ever returned as an apparition.
Coronation Street’s most famed serial killer Richard Hillman is returning but this time round he will be back as a ghost, according to the Sun
Soap bosses are said to have secretly brought back the original TV actor, Brian Capron, to reprise his iconic character
‘The horrific scenes were massive at the time and Gail’s bad judgment in marrying ex Richard ended up being one of her biggest storylines, along with his reign of terror in Weatherfield.
‘Of course, Richard perished but he is back from the dead and there will be scenes of dialogue between him and Gail. She is clearly still haunted by him.’
His return comes after Helen announced her departure from the soap earlier this year.
The actress who celebrated 50 years on the ITV show last month has made the difficult decision to step down from her role as Gail Rodwell, but most commonly known as Gail Platt, at the end of the year.
Half a century after she first walked onto the cobbles, viewers will see Helen bid farewell to the street in a major storyline for the her family.
It’s thought her son Nick Tilsley (Ben Price), daughter Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien), son David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), granddaughter Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) and mother Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) will all be involved.
In her nearly 50-year stint on the soap, she has been married five times, including Brian Tilsey (Christopher Quinten), who was tragically stabbed to death, and Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), one of the soap’s long-serving characters.
Helen has been at the centre of an array of explosive storylines, including her daughter Sarah’s teenage pregnancy, and the death of her fourth debt-ridden husband Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) during a failed life insurance scheme.
His comeback, after a 21 year hiatus, is believed to be for Gail Platt’s exit as he tried to kill Gail, played by Helen Worth, and her children Sarah (Tina O’Brien) and David (Jack P Shepherd)
Richard kidnapped the three of them and Sarah’s daughter and drove them into a canal where he drowned but the others survived
His return comes after Helen announced her departure from the soap earlier this year
The actress who celebrates 50 years on the ITV show last month has made the difficult decision to step down from her role as Gail Rodwell – best known as Gail Platt – at the end of the year
One of Gail’s most iconic moments came in a 2003 episode when she found out her husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) was a serial killer.
Helen started filming her exit story earlier this year and the emotional scenes will be on screen at the end of the year.
Helen said in a statement: ‘This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.’
‘I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.
‘I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew.
‘The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.’
Executive Producer Iain Macleod added: ‘The words ‘legend’ and ‘icon’ get used a lot these days but they genuinely do apply to Gail and to Helen Worth.’
‘However, given her humility, I know Helen won’t thank me for saying so! In Helen’s hands, Gail has been a huge part of Coronation Street for five decades and at the centre of some of the most memorable storylines – often deriving from her catastrophically bad luck in choosing husbands!’
Helen will started filming her exit story earlier this year and the emotional scenes will be on screen at the end of the year
One of her most iconic moments came when she was nearly drowned by her killer husband Richard
‘Her ill-fated marriage to Richard Hillman was one of the most ground-breaking stories in soap history and cemented Gail’s already established status as one of the Corrie greats.’
‘As the matriarch of the Platt clan, her affectionately prickly relationships with her kids and flighty mum Audrey epitomise what makes the show great: complicated family dynamics brought to life impeccably by Helen’s dramatic and comedic chops, alongside those of her fictional clan.
‘Gail has given us countless hours of entertainment but it should also be said that Helen herself is a consummate professional and a thoroughly good egg.’
‘Everyone connected to the show will miss having her around the place just as much as the viewers will miss having her on their screens and we wish her all the very best for the future.
While her exit storyline has been kept top secret some fans have speculated Gail will be killed off in her final episode, citing the character’s 2021 heart attack.
