Award-winning Coronation Street screenwriter Jonathan Harvey has confirmed his plans to return to the ITV soap after leaving last week.
Jonathan, 56, penned 331 scripts worth of cobble-based drama over two decades, having been part of the show since 2004.
He joined the show to guide staff with Todd Grimshaw’s coming-out story, before becoming part of the regular pool of writers.
His work before the Street includes Kathy Burke vehicle Gimme Gimme Gimme, and the play Beautiful Thing which was adapted for screen in 1996.
The film starred future EastEnders stars Linda Henry and Tameka Empson, with the former recently seen reuniting with Jonathan during her prolonged absence from the BBC drama.
Last week, he confirmed that he had left Corrie on X.
‘My last episode of Corrie is on tonight. Paul’s funeral’ he wrote.
‘Jan McVerry’s written the first half and me the second. Sure it’ll all be plain sailing and everyone’ll get on and it’ll all be lovely.’
The news came after his announcement that he’d ‘stepped back’ to allow an extended break.
One of his latest projects is Here You Come Again, a new musical using the music of Dolly Parton. It debuts in Salford’s Lowry Theatre – just metres away from the Coronation Street set – at the end of the month.
In a chat with I Love Manchester to publicise the new production, he was asked whether he’d ever return to soapland.
‘If they’ll have me!’ he joked.
‘I’m planning on returning next year. I felt after twenty years it was time for a break. I honestly only thought I’d stay for a year or two, but I blinked my eyes and twenty years had passed.’
His quick-witted instalments cemented him as a favourite amongst viewers, so this will undoubtedly be welcome news!
Jonathan was also asked what his ‘most fun’ writing job was, to which he replied: ‘Probably Corrie. Being part of a team can be a scream. Writing usually is such a lonely isolating process, so to spend time with other writers in the writers’ room is a bonus.’
Reflecting on his years spent in the education sector, he added: ‘I used to be a teacher, and when I left teaching the only thing I missed was the camaraderie of the staff room.’
‘I feel like I get a version of that with Corrie.’
