Returning Coronation Street star Katy Cavanagh has confirmed the reason for returning to her much-loved role of Julie Carp – she wants to get closure and is thrilled to play a part in Sue Cleaver’s exit after 25 years.
Sue recently announced her plans to leave her alter-ego Eileen Grimshaw behind, citing the need to spread her wings.
Ahead of her final scenes, she will be reunited with sister Julie, who bumps into Todd (Gareth Pierce) at an event.
As the pair catch up, Julie will be welcomed back by Eileen, and Katy couldn’t be more excited to don her character’s eccentric wardrobe again.
‘It was really lovely to get the call,’ she smiled. ‘It is something I haven’t thought about for many years. And I’m very fond of Julie, so it was a good feeling.
It also felt good to be asked to be part of Eileen’s departure story it is perfect to come and have some closure on Julie and Eileen.
‘Sue and I go back to my very first job on The Cops so it is a full circle moment. It also attracted me as it was for a short set period of time and I could fit it in with the other things going on in my life.’
Viewers will remember Julie as warm-hearted, slightly mad-cap and off the wall – and Katy is as pleased as we are that there hasn’t been much change.
‘It’s a lot of fun to play her and to be a glass half full person,’ she explained to us.
‘To have her little Doris Day lens on the world, I really enjoy that side of her. Corrie have always been very brave in their portrayal of women and these larger than life sort of characters, you don’t really see it anywhere else.
‘You can really take risks as an actor and be bold. And there’s not a lot of places you can do that.’
That said, the actress warned that not everything might be as it seems with Julie and her reappearance.
It’s clear that she is hiding a secret, and one that will come to the fore before Eileen says her goodbyes.
Whether that means a happy ending for the pair or not, Katy is keeping quiet.
She told us: ‘Seeing Todd at the hotel really, brings it home. Really, it kind of makes her have to face up to the reality of her life which is really, really tough.
‘I think, for anybody to have to do that, it’s a very brave thing to have to do, absolutely. Todd is lovely to her, she and Todd always had a great relationship and she’s not realised how loved she is.
‘I don’t think she’s got the highest self-esteem in the world. I think she sort of is a bit shocked that people love her as much as they do, and that they want her, and that they want to take care of her, and it overwhelms her.
‘She exists in her own little world, and doesn’t think anyone will care that much and I think that’s what stops her in her tracks and realise she needs to be with those people.’
And what about Brian Packham, played by Peter Gunn?
Katy added: ‘I think they’ve always just been soulmates. She has always had a place and a heart for Brian and they very quickly gravitate back towards each other and she gets great comfort from being with him.
‘Brian is someone who very much affirmed her and allowed her to be who she is, and celebrated her. And I think that that’s just gorgeous, working with Peter is a massive amount of fun. He’s just brilliant.’
Katy still gets recognised for the role nine years on from leaving, but in that time, life has been very different for the actress.
‘Mostly I have been writing – screen plays, TV pilots that sort of thing. I have been doing a lot of travelling, and spending time between America and the UK.
‘For me the writing has kind of taken over so I was thrilled to be able to break off and return to acting when Corrie got in touch, it came just at the right time for me.’
