Danson excited over Nick's Corrie return

Coronation Street actress Jane Danson has revealed that she is intrigued by the decision to recast the role of Nick Tilsley.

In June, the ITV1 soap's producers confirmed that Adam Rickitt's former character will soon return to Weatherfield with a new actor in the part.

Danson's alter ego Leanne Battersby dated and later married Nick in the late '90s. However, the couple eventually split and Nick fell in love with hairdresser Maria (Samia Smith) during his last stint between 2003 and 2004.

Discussing the character's return, Danson told Holy Soap: "What's interesting when you bring an old character back is that even though it's a different actor, there's all the baggage there from years ago. He's been involved with Leanne and Maria, and obviously his family are there too so there's lots of scope for that character.

"I don't know whether they will make anything of Leanne and him or not because she seems quite settled where she is. But there's always a possibility of revisiting it. Leanne would probably just wind him up I think. I suppose it's an open book at the moment. I'd quite like to see Maria and Nick get together."

Asked who she would like to see in the role, the star replied: "Well, I don't think Brad Pitt's available! It'll be interesting because working with Adam was lovely. We were really close at the time.

"He's abroad now so I wonder whether they'll go for someone very similar looking or if they'll go completely in a new direction. I don't think it really matters. Viewers get used to new actors and they accept them. It'll be interesting to see which way they go."

Rickitt is currently a cast member on New Zealand soap Shortland Street.