Exclusive: Jim, Andy McDonald return to Corrie

Former Coronation Street regulars Charlie Lawson and Nicholas Cochrane are to return to Weatherfield for a "big old McDonald wedding", Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.

The duo, who play father and son Jim and Andy McDonald (below), return to filming at Manchester's Granada Studios later this month for their son and twin brother Steve's (Simon Gregson) second wedding to loudmouth barmaid Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly).

Speaking to DS, the soap's producer Kim Crowther said: "Lloyd [Mullaney] plays quite a major part in Steve's next wedding when Jim McDonald makes a reappearance. The thing that Jim gets embroiled in isn't what you'd expect, though."

She continued: "Lloyd manages to cause a rumpus at the nuptials without it all panning out as you'd think - considering Lloyd's going out with Liz, that is. Jim - and actually Andy, too - reappear, so it'll be a big old McDonald wedding."

A Corrie source added: "It's a lovely McDonald family reunion but as with all soap weddings, there's an extremely dramatic ending to the day."

Earlier this year, Steve and Becky's first wedding didn't go to plan when the blushing bride turned up at the register office in an inebriated state. The registrar subsequently refused to marry them.

Lawson briefly reprised his role as Jim at the end of 2007 for his former screen wife Liz's (Bev Callard) sham wedding to Vernon (Ian Reddington).

Cochrane, meanwhile, was last seen on the cobbles as Andy on February 20, 2004, when he left for a new life in Spain after serving as a witness at his brother's second marriage to Karen McDonald (Suranne Jones). Andy has since been cited in several scripts but has remained unseen.

Steve and Becky's "bigger and better" second nuptials are due to air in mid-August.

> Click here to read our recent interview with Kim Crowther