Kevin Kennedy 'in talks' for Corrie return

Former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy has announced that he wants to return to the soap next year.

The 48-year-old actor claimed that he has been in talks to reprise his role as Curly Watts for the show's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Speaking to the Daily Star, he commented: "It's been discussed at the highest levels and we're all in agreement. Curly still has a tale to tell but he's got to have a good reason to come back.

"The best soap storylines are where the audience is in on it but the other characters aren't. Say Curly comes back to the Street after getting out of jail? The viewers will know this but the Corrie residents won't. There'd be loads of stuff to find out as the story unravels.

"I still live in Manchester and pop into the studios for a cuppa and to catch up on the gossip."

Kennedy's character was written out of the ITV1 drama after 21 years in 2003. Viewers saw him leaving Weatherfield with wife Emma (Angela Lonsdale) and son Ben.

A Coronation Street spokesman said: "With the 50th anniversary next year we would never rule out the return of any favourite character."

It is not the first time that Kennedy has discussed a possible comeback. In April, he suggested that there is still "mileage" left in Curly.