Exclusive: 'Coronation Street' John is full of remorse, says Graeme Hawley

Coronation Street star Graeme Hawley has revealed that viewers will see a "remorseful" side to his character John Stape when he makes his Weatherfield comeback.

John's dramatic return episodes air next week, showing him descend on Weatherfield in time for his wife Fiz's trial and cause fresh chaos.

Fiz (Jennie McAlpine) has recently been wrongly accused of three murders after being caught up in her husband's dark crimes. However, John is determined to make sure that she does not face a jail sentence.

Hawley told Digital Spy of John's return: "He's in a very determined and single-minded state of mind. He knows exactly what he's got to do, which is get Fiz out of jail. John is absolutely determined that, one way or another, he'll make that happen."

"He's completely remorseful for what he's done," he continued. "He never imagined in his wildest dreams that Fiz would be arrested for the murders, and now he feels absolutely terrible about it. He's determined to put it right for her, one way or another."



Hawley added that he believes Fiz still loves John despite the ordeal he has put her through.

"That's the thing about love, I suppose - it's not something that you can really switch off," he explained. "I think in some ways, Fiz absolutely hates John and she hates the things that he's done. She also absolutely hates him for the position that he's put her in.

"But at the same time, he is the love of her life and she can't change that. It's impossible for Fiz to switch that off."

As revealed earlier this year, John's return sees him kidnap Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) for a second time - coaching her to testify on his behalf at the trial. However, things go wrong when he is involved in a car crash and has to be rushed to hospital.

Coronation Street airs Fiz's trial episodes all next week on ITV1.

Check back later this week for a full interview with Coronation Street returnee Graeme Hawley.

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