Shobna Gulati's Corrie return confirmed

Former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati will make a return to the soap later this year, it has been confirmed.

The 42-year-old actress will reprise her role as Dev Alahan's (Jimmy Harkishin) wife Sunita in October after three years away from the ITV1 show.

Gulati made her Weatherfield debut in 2001 but was written out in 2006 when her character discovered that Dev had been unfaithful and decided to make a fresh start.

Discussing the comeback, Gulati told The Mirror: "They didn't kill Sunita off - she went to live in her parents' house in Swinton with her and Dev's twins.

"Sunita's a heartwarming character and I'd like to see her come back as a mature woman - she has brought up two kids on her own and she's not a girl anymore."

Coronation Street's producer Kim Crowther first hinted at a possible return for Gulati in an interview with DS last week, promising a "great new direction" for Dev involving "the return of some old faces".

It was later reported that talks were underway for the actress to make an "exciting" comeback.

Since leaving Weatherfield, Gulati has appeared in ITV1 family drama Where The Heart Is and BBC One's legal series New Street Law.