Catherine Tyldesley to Pause Coronation Street Role for Channel 5 Commitment
Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley is preparing to take a temporary hiatus from the iconic ITV soap opera, mere months after her highly anticipated return to the cobbles. The 42-year-old star, who originally portrayed Rovers Return barmaid Eva Price from 2011 to 2018, made a dramatic comeback in October last year, reintroducing her character with a new family to take over the pub's management.
Balancing Soap Duties with Drama Series Filming
During her previous absence from Coronation Street, Tyldesley expanded her acting portfolio with roles in the sitcom Scarborough and subsequently achieved significant acclaim for her performance in Channel 5's mystery drama The Good Ship Murder, where she stars alongside former Coronation Street co-star Shayne Ward. Since resuming her role as Eva Price in October, viewers have witnessed the character navigate turbulent family dynamics, including persistent conflicts with her mother-in-law Maggie, portrayed by Pauline McGlynn, and confront a shocking revelation during the Christmas period.
Additionally, her teenage stepson Will Driscoll has become entangled in a sensitive grooming storyline involving his teacher. However, industry sources now indicate that Tyldesley requires time away from the soap to film her concluding scenes for The Good Ship Murder, where she plays First Officer Kate Woods.
Production Coordination and Character Arcs
An insider close to the production revealed that Tyldesley has coordinated with Coronation Street executives to secure leave for this filming commitment. "Cath spoke to her bosses at Corrie about taking some time off to film her Good Ship exit and they agreed," the source disclosed. "When she agreed to return to the soap, there was a lot of uncertainty about whether or not she would be able to go back, but fortunately, it’s all working out."
The source further clarified that while there were initial discussions about potentially writing off her character in The Good Ship Murder, producers ultimately decided on a "happy ending" for Kate Woods. "The writers are delighted that Cath is able to return to film her exit," the insider added. "Cath and Shayne have formed such an incredible partnership on-screen and the viewers deserve to see how it all ends for them."
Co-Star Reflections and Past Collaborations
Shayne Ward, who played Eva's former fiancé Aidan Connor on Coronation Street, recently acknowledged that he has not had the opportunity to reconnect with Tyldesley since her return to the soap. Ward refrained from commenting on how her soap obligations might influence their Channel 5 series, but expressed fond memories of his time on Coronation Street. "I loved it. I haven’t spoken to Catherine much recently because I know how intense it is when you’re in the show, especially now that she's in the Rovers," he stated. "It’s a big responsibility. I loved being on the cobbles and playing Aidan. It was a great three years of my life and something I’ll always cherish."
Ward also reflected on his character's poignant exit storyline, which addressed male mental health issues. "It tackled a male taboo and encouraged people to ask, 'Are you okay?' It was handled beautifully and the public responded so well," he remarked. Representatives for Coronation Street have been approached for comment regarding Tyldesley's impending break and the scheduling adjustments involved.
