Catherine Tyldesley has signed a new contract to continue playing Eva Price on Coronation Street for another 12 months, following her return to the cobbles earlier this year. The actress, who originally left the show in 2019, made her comeback in 2025, and now fans can look forward to more drama involving the character.
Return to the Cobbles
Eva Price made her much-anticipated return to Weatherfield after a seven-year absence, with her signature golden blow-dry and pink attire. She took over as landlady of the Rovers Return alongside her new blended family, the Driscolls. Catherine Tyldesley slipped back into the role with ease, and the character has been at the centre of several major storylines since her return.
Eva has been locked in a feud with her mother-in-law Maggie, played by Pauline McLynn, and has been helping her partner Ben, portrayed by Aaron McCusker, come to terms with the revelation that the man he thought was his father was not, and that his mother accidentally killed him. Additionally, the storyline involving young Will, played by Lucas Hodgson-Wale, who was groomed and sexually abused by paedophile teacher Megan Walsh, played by Beth Nixon, has been a key focus, including the ensuing court case.
Storylines and Support
Eva's reunion with her sisters Leanne and Toyah Battersby, played by Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor, led to her offering support when their stepson Sam Blakeman, played by Jude Riordan, developed schizophrenia after being psychologically tortured by Megan. These intense plots have kept Eva at the heart of the show, and now viewers can expect another year of 'diva Eva'.
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.'
Catherine's Reaction
Speaking about her return, 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!'
'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. 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!'
Balancing Other Projects
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. A source revealed at the time: 'Cath spoke to her bosses at Corrie about taking some time off to film her Good Ship exit and they agreed. 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.'
The contract extension ensures that Eva Price will remain a central figure on Coronation Street for the next 12 months, continuing the character's dramatic storylines and keeping viewers engaged with her return.
