Bill Kenwright to return to Coronation Street

Coronation StreetBill Kenwright is to reprise his role of Gordon Clegg, son of Rovers barmaid Betty Williams, in Coronation Street.

The character will return to Weatherfield for the funeral of Betty – actress Betty Driver died late last year. Producers have since been working out how to best pay tribute to the actress and the character.

Gordon Clegg was originally introduced as the son of Betty’s sister Maggie Clegg (Irene Sutcliffe) who ran the Corner Shop. However, it was later revealed that Gordon was not Maggie’s son at all but instead the secret love child of Betty. The character has featured on and off during the years with Kenwright’s last appearance in the role in 1995. After which the character was played by Geoffrey Leesley in for several appearances in the early 2000’s.

The news of Kenwright’s return to Coronation Street was made by Sharon Marshall on ITV‘s This Morning. Marshall revealed ‘We’ve got a little announcement to make about Betty and the funeral plans. Betty’s funeral will be screened in April. There’s been so many rumours in the press, but there’s only one person who they’ve actually asked to come back – and that’s Bill Kenwright, who played her on-screen son.’

Press reports have linked Julie Goodyear and Jean Alexander as possible returnees as well though the latter has declined returns on previous occasions. A report earlier this year claimed producers were not planning on bringing any characters back for the funeral but that was quickly contradicted.