Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has revealed that show producer Stuart Blackburn wanted to bring Liz McDonald back two days into his job.
It was announced last week that Callard, who played Liz McDonald on and off between 1989 and 2011, will be reprising her role.
Speaking to Cambridge News, Callard said: "I left a couple of years ago to go back on stage again because I think it's important for an actor to do both and I'd not been on stage for ten years.
"Then Coronation Street got a new producer [Stuart Blackburn], who I worked with and adore. I've worked with him for ten years; he said to me on day two in the job that he wanted to bring Liz back.
"I love playing Liz so I'm really looking forward to working in front of the camera again, and the intimacy of camera, but I'll miss having a live audience, that's for sure."
Callard has been starring as Mari Hoff in a touring version of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.
Speaking about the role, Callard said: "It is a challenging part because, as I say, it's just so busy and so full-on because she is the juggernaut that drives the play.
"Each job you do brings new challenges. I loved creating Liz and creating that iconic character, but then playing Mari Hoff, who is totally different but still another iconic character, so it's been amazing."
Coronation Street viewers will see Callard back on screen as Liz McDonald in October.
