Speculation over Corrie comeback for Bet

Coronation Street's most famous landlady Bet Lynch is being tipped to return to the soap, according to the papers.

The News Of The World reports that the much loved character - who was played by actress Julie Goodyear - could be one of a number of old faces making a comeback under the show's new producer Phil Collinson.

Goodyear - who played the role for 25 years, left the soap in 1995 after winning a lifetime achievement gong at the National TV Awards.

However she has recently hinted at a return to the show, and it's thought Collinson - who famously axed Freema Agyeman as Doctor Who's assistant in 2007 - may bring back some other long-departed characters.

"Phil feels viewers have been turning off because the show has become a teen soap, like Hollyoaks," an insider told the paper. "So he's set a brief to make changes and revive the golden days.

"Julie is on the top of the list. Phil thinks she stands for everything about the show - the humour and the campness of Corrie."

Others Collinson is reportedly interested in getting back to the show include actress Sherrie Hewson, who played Maureen Naylor, Richard Fleeshman who played Craig Harris, and possibly even Kevin Kennedy, aka Curly Watts.

However it's thought the plan may hit some of the show's younger characters, such as Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), his screen wife Claire (Julia Haworth) and Maria Connor, played by Samia Smith.

"Phil's aim is to make the show more about the older, more established characters," the source added.

"The Street celebrates a landmark later this year so it seems natural that they would want the big names back in the show for then," the source added.

"Just a glimpse of Bet back on the cobbles will be enough to get fans tuning back in."