'Jim McDonald' returns to Corrie

Former Coronation Street icon Charlie Lawson is to return to the Cobbles later this year.

The 47-year-old Jim McDonald actor is on the verge of signing a six-week contract with the Weatherfield soap and will feature in a pre-Christmas storyline.

Viewers last saw Jim back in 2003 when he escaped the clutches of the prison service after learning this his then-wife, Liz (Bev Callard), may have been having an affair with a pub landlord in Blackpool.

However, Liz and Jim's attempted escape to Ireland failed when they found themselves rescuing Claire (Julia Haworth) and Ashley (Steven Arnold) from a stranded boat, resulting in the boys in blue catching up with them both.

A Weatherfield source revealed to The Sun: "Liz has had a chequered love life since divorcing Jim a second time.

"So whether she'll be pleased to see him again remains to be seen. We're guessing not – though with those two, anything can happen."

Charlie is due to return to filming with the Manchester-based ITV soap in October and will make his on-screen re-appearance in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Over the festive period, Charlie will also be appearing at Stockport Plaza as Aladdin panto baddie Abanazer.