Paula Wilcox set for big Coronation Street return

Paula Wilcox is set to return to \'Coronation Street\' this month.

The TV veteran - who previously made a brief appearance on the soap back in 1969 - will make her return to the cobbles after more than 50 years to play Elaine, the former partner of Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholemew).

Yasmeen is currently in prison awaiting trial for attempted murder while her abuser Geoff is still free, but Elaine\'s appearance could reveal his sinister side and put him behind bars.

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An insider told The Sun newspaper\'s Bizarre TV column: "If Yasmeen pursues the defence that she snapped after endless cruelty at the hands of Geoff, then Elaine\'s testimony could prove invaluable. But as this is \'Corrie\' it won\'t be plain sailing, there\'ll be quite a few twists and turns along the way.

"Paula is only making a guest appearance for a few weeks but it\'s a role she\'ll relish sinking her teeth into. After all she\'ll play a pivotal part in a storyline that\'s had the nation gripped."

The 70-year-old actress first appeared on the show as Janice, the younger sister of Ray Langton (Neville Buswell).

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She has since gone on to star in the sitcom \'The Liver Birds\' and played Hilary Potts in \'Emmerdale\' from 2007 to 2008.

Paula has also starred opposite Richard Beckinsale - the father of movie star Kate Beckinsale - as Beryl Battersby in \'The Lovers\' in the 1970s.

Meanwhile, her new \'Corrie\' co-star Ian Bartholomew has recently admitted his coercive control storyline has been a "tough and emotionally draining ride".

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He said: "You can\'t help feeling proud when you learn how people are responding to this storyline.

"It\'s been a tough and emotionally draining ride, but the thing that\'s kept Shelley King who plays Yasmeen, and myself going, is the responsibility we have as actors to tell the story of these two unhappy and lonely people, and to shine a light on the terrible and cowardly crime of coercive control.

"To be a part of the team of writers, storyliners, producers and actors addressing such an important issue in \'Coronation Street\', a well-loved and hugely popular programme, is a privilege.

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"Knowing that we are helping women and men who are affected by this kind of abuse in some way, and making our general audience more aware of it at the same time, is reward enough in itself."