There is some bad news about Norris Cole’s return to Coronation Street

He's due to return to Weatherfield in the new year.

But it looks like there's a catch to Norris Cole's return to Coronation Street that some fans may not have realised. The beloved character, who has been played by Malcolm Hebden for almost 25 years on-and-off, is only going to be having a "cameo return" at present. Executive producer of the show, Iain MacLeod, told Digital Spy: 

"He's back for a short stint in a little sort of cameo return in the hope we can have him back permanently in the future.

"He's on that list of Emily Bishops of characters who are so Corrie that the show doesn't feel correct without them in there. Soap characters come and go – but I am reading bits in the scripts where I know Norris would have something to say.

"His return story is pleasantly silly and revisits his relationship with Mary in a meaningful way. I hope Malcolm likes it, he's not read the script yet."

Norris has been "in Scotland" for a little while, spending time with Emily Bishop - as well as some others - in Edinburgh. Hebden left the soap in 2017 after he had a heart attack and needed time to recover.