Coronation Street favourite Jonathan Harvey has updated fans on his return plans following his exit.
The screenwriter, who has penned 331 episodes of the ITV soap, bowed out from his role earlier this month after 20 years.
Speaking to I Love Manchester, Harvey explained his decision to take a “break” from the soap, before revealing that he’s planning to return to the cobbles next year.
“I felt after twenty years it was time for a break,” he said. “I honestly only thought I’d stay for a year or two, but I blinked my eyes and twenty years had passed.”
Related: Best film and TV tours for 2024
The writer described his gig at Corrie as the “most fun writing job” he’s had, with the “camaraderie” of the writers’ room making him feel at home.
“Being part of a team can be a scream,” he said. “Writing usually is such a lonely, isolating process, so to spend time with other writers in the writers’ room is a bonus.
“I used to be a teacher, and when I left teaching, the only thing I missed was the camaraderie of the staff room. I feel like I get a version of that with Corrie.”
Harvey’s final episode on the soap was a dramatic one. After attending his husband Paul Foreman’s funeral, Billy Mayhew made a pass at his ex-partner Todd Grimshaw after learning that Paul had already passed away before he could say his goodbyes.
Related: Coronation Street to air update on Rowan Cunliffe ahead of on-screen return
As well as his work on the Corrie, Harvey has also written plays and novels. They include Beautiful Thing, Wildfire, The Cherry Blossom Tree, Closer to Heaven and Musik.
After bringing the Dusty Springfield-inspired musical to the stage in 2018, Harvey has now adapted a new Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again – which began its UK tour earlier this week (October 8).
Filled with the likes of ‘Jolene’, ‘9 to 5’ and ‘Islands in the Stream’, the production tells the story of a diehard fan whose imaginary version of Parton gets him through difficult times.
“It’s an uplifting joy,” Harvey said. “And the two leads are fantastic. But Tricia [Paoluccio] as Dolly has to be seen to be believed.”
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage