Phew! Coronation Street icon signs contract for another big year

| Freelance Soaps Reporter Published August 18, 2026 10:11am Updated August 18, 2026 10:13am Another year of Eva! (Picture: Danielle Baguley/Shutterstock) After a seven-year absence, seeing Eva Price sashay her way back onto Coronation Street with that signature golden blow-dry and pink attire just felt right. Taking over the Rovers Return alongside her new blended family, it felt as though Eva was instantly back where she belonged, with Catherine Tyldesley slipping back into her alter-ego’s stilettos with absolute ease. It’s hardly been the smoothest ride for the Driscoll clan; Eva remains locked in a seemingly eternal feud with her monstrous mother-in-law Maggie (Pauline McLynn), while helping her partner Ben (Aaron McCusker) navigate the revelation that the man he always believed to be his dad was in fact, not, and accidentally killed by his mum. Then there was the hideous truth of young Will’s (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) grooming and sexual abuse at the hands of paedophile school teacher, Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon) and the ensuing court case. Eva’s reunion with her sisters, Leanne and Toyah Battersby (Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor), led to her offering her support when their step son Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) developed schizophrenia amid the psychological torture inflicted on him by the aforementioned Megan. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. The poor girl’s barely been back for a year! The Driscolls have been through a lot already! (Picture: Danielle Baguley/ITV) Thankfully for viewers, though, we have another year of diva Eva to look forward to, with Catherine signing another contract which will see her remain on the cobbles for another 12 months. A Coronation Street source told the Sun: ‘Cath’s return was a big risk for her – she’d built up a great career away from Weatherfield that not everyone who leaves manages to do but being back has just been perfect. ‘It means she can spend more time with her family and still do the job she loves. She’s going to continue to be at the heart of the show and was happy to extend her return for another year.’ Speaking on her return at the time, Catherine said: ‘I really meant what I said when I left that I’d love to come back, because Eva is so much fun to play. ‘It felt really serendipitous I suppose, I was in Malta filming and my agent was like Kate Brooks would like to talk to you about Corrie and I assumed it was somebody’s funeral. I thought, ‘Somebody’s dying, they want me to rock up!’ Eva’s return came after 7 years (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) ‘I remember my agent saying, ‘I don’t really know what to expect, let’s just keep a poker face and let’s hear her out and see what happens. ‘We were on a Zoom and Kate said, ‘Would you like to be landlady?’ ‘My agent was like, ‘Cath, nice one!’ I was just really shocked. It’s an absolute dream. I remember watching the show as a kid and thinking, ‘I’d kill to be landlady one day. How cool would that be?’ ‘I’d been away for nine months at this point and I feel truly blessed to have carried on working and done some great things, but I felt like the universe had combined things at the right time. ‘I remember [her husband] saying to me, ‘God, I hope your next job is in Manchester, Cath!’ And then we got this call. Catherine took a brief break to film her exit from Good Ship Murder (Picture: 5 Broadcasting Limited/Para) ‘I’d been asked before to come back and I’d always made a point of emailing the producers because it genuinely didn’t work in the past because I had other projects but I was actually like, ‘This could work!’ ‘So it all came around at the right time on a personal and professional level. It felt right and I’m so thrilled to be back. It’s just been so gorgeous!’ Catherine took a brief break earlier in the year to film a proper exit from her role in the Channel 5 cosy-crime drama, Good Ship Murder, in which she played first officer Kate Woods. ‘Cath spoke to her bosses at Corrie about taking some time off to film her Good Ship exit and they agreed,’ a source revealed at the time. Deals of the Day Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you ‘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.’ Arrow MORE: EastEnders fan took a chance and DM-ed star – now they’re in love Arrow MORE: Coronation Street star reveals reason why staying ‘would never work’ as she quits after 7 years Arrow MORE: Stephanie Davis: ‘I was stabbed by my own feelings but now I’m in control’ The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.