Corrie producer: No returns for 50th

New Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson has revealed that there will be no old characters returning for the show's golden anniversary episodes.

Collinson, who succeeded Kim Crowther as the ITV soap's showrunner earlier this year, is currently planning its 50th anniversary celebrations with storyliners.

Various reports have claimed that the likes of Julie Goodyear, Kevin Kennedy and Suranne Jones would be making a comeback.

It has also been suggested that former actress Liz Dawn is being lined up to return as the ghost of Vera Duckworth.

However, Corrie's leading man has denied any such plans.

Speaking exclusively to DS, he said: "There'll be no returning characters from the past, no big nods to nostalgia… The Street itself is 50 years old and characters like Ken and Emily have been in it for that long and reflect that, so I don't want to look backwards."

Coronation Street celebrates its 50th anniversary on December 9.

> Click here to read our recent interview with Phil Collinson
> Character teasers from Corrie's Phil Collinson