ITV confirm Coronation Street favourite is set for a sensational return to the cobbles as new Rovers Return landlord – and she’s not alone!
ITV have confirmed that Coronation Street favourite, Eva Price, will be returning to the cobbles this autumn – and she’s taking over the Rovers Return.
Actress Catherine Tyldesley, 41, is back filming top-secret scenes in Weatherfield – and she’s not alone.
Joining her are two major new cast members: Shameless and Bohemian Rhapsody star Aaron McCusker, 46, and comedy legend Pauline McLynn, 63, best known as Mrs Doyle in Father Ted.
The pair will arrive as Eva’s new partner Ben Driscoll and his meddling mother Maggie, with the trio unveiled as the new owners of the Rovers in scenes set to air in October.
It marks the first time Eva will be pulling pints behind the iconic bar since 2018, and the new Price-Driscoll clan looks set to shake things up in a big way.
In upcoming episodes, Eva will be reunited with her sisters Leanne and Toyah while catching up with old friends and neighbours.
ITV has confirmed that Coronation Street favourite Eva Price will return this autumn as the new landlady of the Rovers Return – and she won’t be coming back alone. She’ll be joined by Aaron McCusker as her partner Ben Driscoll and Pauline McLynn as his meddling mother, Maggie
But what has she been up to since she left Weatherfield? And how will this new clan fit into the drama on the Street?
Also joining the cast will be Ben’s two sons, along with Eva’s daughter Suzie, making this new blended family one to watch.
Coronation Street fans will recognise Pauline from her roles in Father Ted, Shameless, and EastEnders, where she played Yvonne Cotton in 2014.
Aaron also starred in Shameless as Jamie Maguire and famously played Freddie Mercury’s boyfriend Jim Hutton in the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody.
Catherine originally left Coronation Street in 2018 after seven years on the show. Since then, she’s appeared in a string of dramas including Viewpoint, Suspicion, Scarborough and most recently The Good Ship Murder.
Speaking about Catherine’s return, Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks said: ‘We are beyond thrilled that Eva is returning as the landlady of the Rovers, with her new blended family in tow.
‘The Driscolls do not arrive quietly, so expect big drama, explosive secrets and raucous knees ups galore.
‘To have actors of Catherine, Aaron and Pauline’s considerable calibre at the beating heart of this family is absolutely wonderful, and we can’t wait for you to get to know and fall in love with them as much as we have already done.
It marks the first time Eva will be pulling pints behind the iconic bar since 2018 (pictured), and the new Price-Driscoll clan looks set to shake things up in a big way
She concluded: ‘Strap yourselves in, it’s going to be an exciting and eventful ride.’
An insider told The Sun earlier this week that producers took their time finding the perfect actor to play Eva’s new husband, and once Aaron and Catherine were paired, they knew they had struck gold.
They told the publication: ‘Corrie bosses were never going to take EastEnders‘ shrewd decision to reinstate Kat and Alfie at the Vic lying down.
‘So they took their time looking for the perfect actor to play her husband to Eva as she makes her return to Corrie as the new boss of the Rovers.
‘When Aaron walked in, and once paired with Catherine, bosses knew they had the perfect partnership to run the soap’s iconic pub.’
Describing the pair’s chemistry as ‘electric’, the insider noted that Aaron will bring his Irish charm to the pub as the pair put on a ‘happy and loved-up’ display.
However, despite having all the friendliness associated with the Irish, the insider stressed that Aaron is not a character to be messed with.
They added: ‘It’s the start of an exciting new chapter in the pub’s history.’
News of the latest change on the cobblestones comes after it was announced that the show had been pulling in record viewers after making one recent change.
The change took place in October 2024, when the long-running show became available to view on ITVX from 7am on the day of broadcast.
Coronation Street fans will recognise Pauline from her roles in Father Ted, Shameless, and EastEnders, where she played Yvonne Cotton in 2014 (pictured with June Brown on EastEnders)
Aaron also starred in Shameless as Jamie Maguire and famously played Freddie Mercury’s boyfriend Jim Hutton in the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody (pictured in the movie)
This meant that soap fans could either choose to tune in early or watch their favourite soaps at a time that better suited them.
The decision to make the change came after BBC soap EastEnders made a similar switch to iPlayer a few years ago.
Following the change, both Corrie and Emmerdale, which also made the switch, have enjoyed a record 124 million streams in 2025’s first quarter.
This meant that there have been an impressive one billion streams on ITVX so far this year.
To put the change into context, compared to this time last year, soap viewing has increased by 35 percent.
ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo, said: ‘We have totally transformed our streaming offer with ITVX over the past couple of years.
‘All our teams internally, alongside the best producers in the business, have helped deliver these brilliant numbers by producing, promoting and delivering this fantastic content to audiences to stream.’
