Coronation Street star Jane Danson has publicly urged her former co-star Chris Gascoyne to return to the ITV soap, and fans are echoing her call. The plea came in the comments section of an Instagram post shared by Gascoyne on Thursday, August 14, 2026, in which he posted a throwback clip from his time on the cobbles.
The video shows Gascoyne's character, Peter Barlow, in a heated confrontation with his stepmother Deirdre (played by the late Anne Kirkbride) and sister Tracy (Kate Ford), following a relapse in his long-running battle with alcoholism. Gascoyne captioned the post: 'A clip from the old days at Corrie! Tracy's last line always makes me laugh.'
Jane Danson's plea and fan reaction
In the comments, Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby, wrote simply: 'Come back already Peter.' Her comment quickly drew widespread support from fans. @andielcfcsutton replied 'Agreed!', @dawsonstevie said 'Yes!', and @dreamyfleur_ added: 'He can be with Leanne again.' @jen_shaw88 wrote: 'Yes! We need our Peter back!' while @ox.sammy.ox echoed: 'peter and leanne again! bring it back!'
Other fans expressed similar sentiments. @shamone11 commented: 'Peter Barlow has always been my favourite Corrie character…would love to see you back.' @emily_thedancer said: 'You was my absolute favourite in Corrie please make a comeback.' @katrinemoran added: 'forever missing peter. corrie's not been the same since.' Meanwhile, @yurty_aherne speculated: 'Is this a tease?'
Peter Barlow's exit from Coronation Street
Peter Barlow departed Weatherfield in 2023. His exit storyline began after he killed serial killer Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce), who had taken Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews) hostage. In the aftermath, Peter struggled with his mental health, and his lifelong battle with alcoholism resurfaced.
Attempting to reinforce his sobriety, Peter met the mother of the man who had donated his liver, who urged him not to waste his second chance at life. As he realised his relationship with Carla (Alison King) was reaching its end and he felt trapped in Weatherfield, it became clear his time on the street was winding down.
In a gut-wrenching Christmas episode, Carla realised she had to set Peter free and bought him a one-way ticket to Spain, reasoning that she had been watching him fade away while stuck on the street. The pair shared an emotional goodbye on Boxing Day, and Peter took the tram out of Manchester to start a new life, leaving behind the street he had longed to escape.
Chris Gascoyne on his departure
Speaking about his exit at the time, Gascoyne said: 'The thing that upset me though was walking away from the people I work with and I don't just mean the actors. I've known all these people for nearly half my life.' He added: 'I've grown up with so many people there but I need a rest and to look to do something different, I'm not getting any younger.'
Since his departure, Peter's former love interests have moved on: Leanne is currently involved with the sinister Idris Nazir (Junade Khan), while Carla has found love with new wife Lisa Connor-Swain (Vicky Myers). Whether Gascoyne will heed the calls to return remains to be seen, but the fan demand is clear.
