Award-winning Coronation Street writer Jonathan Harvey has confirmed his return to the ITV soap.
Having penned 331 episodes over more than two decades, he announced in September that his final episodes were due to air.
‘I took a step back from writing Corrie back in April,’ he wrote at the time.
‘After 20 years I wanted a break! The way the show works means I still have 2 episodes to air. Penultimate one is tonight and I’m v proud of it.’
Fans were quick to tell him to ‘hurry back’, with another commenting that Jonathan is ‘one of the most talented writers on that team.’
Starting his career as a secondary school teacher, before branching off as a playwright in 1987, one of his most notable pieces is Beautiful Thing, a story following two gay teenagers that live next-door to each other on a London social housing estate.
It was later adapted for screen in 1996, with future soapstars Linda Henry and Tameka Empson taking on lead roles many years before appearing as Shirley Carter and Kim Fox in EastEnders.
He found later success with BBC sitcom Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, which starred Kathy Burke.
Yesterday he took to Instagram to reveal he’s written an episode that will air next week – and it’s bound to be packed full of comedy. Dev Alahan’s (Jimmi Harkishin) wedding to Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove)!
Jonathan couldn’t help but poke at the soap’s recent reliance on police and hospital scenes, writing: ‘My first episode of Corrie since I came back will air soon.
‘Dev and Bernie’s wedding! But this being modern day Corrie it wouldn’t be a proper episode without the arrival some blue lights.’
One viewer commented: ‘Thank goodness you’re back, that’s really, really great news.’
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Another added: ‘So glad you’re back.’
Jonathan was invited by Granada Television to join the Coronation Street team in 2004, though was initially reluctant. After guiding Todd Grimshaw’s coming-out story, he became part of the regular pool of writers.
He also wrote Corrie!, which toured the UK throughout 2010-11 to coincide with the 50th anniversary celebrations and was the genius behind online spin-off series Ken and Deirdre’s Bedtime Stories.
