Coronation Street fans are in for a pleasant surprise as a familiar face is finally returning to Weatherfield after more than a year away from screens. Alex Warner, played by Liam Bairstow,

is set to make a shock comeback to the ITV soap after being absent for around 16 months. His disappearance had sparked plenty of questions among viewers, especially

as the character seemed to vanish without any explanation in the storyline. The last time fans saw Alex was on New Year’s Day in 2025. In his final scenes, he was working

at Roy’s Rolls when he helped an unwell Carla Connor, played by Alison King. Moments later, Carla dramatically collapsed in the café before being rushed to the hospital, where she was later treated for suspected sepsis and kidney failure. After that dramatic episode, Alex was nowhere to be seen again, leaving many fans wondering whether the character had quietly left the show.

Now, new cast listings for upcoming episodes have confirmed that Liam will be back on screen next week, meaning Alex will soon be returning to the cobbles.

For viewers who had grown fond of the character over the years, the news has come as a welcome surprise. While Alex hasn’t always been at the centre of major storylines, he’s remained a popular and recognisable presence in Weatherfield, particularly thanks to his work at Roy’s Rolls.

A source close to the show told the Sun that fans would likely be delighted to see him return.

‘People definitely noticed that Alex had disappeared,’ the insider said. ‘He’s always been a much-loved character in the background of the show, so it’ll be great for viewers to see him back where he belongs.’

After 16 months since his quiet exit Alex will be back on our screens

Alex first arrived in Weatherfield back in 2015. He joined the soap as the nephew of Cathy Matthews, played by Melanie Hill. During his early days on the show, Alex was a regular fixture and quickly became part of everyday life on the cobbles.

In fact, Liam appeared in 55 episodes within his first year alone, showing just how frequently the character was involved in storylines at the time.

However, in more recent years, Alex has appeared less regularly, popping up only occasionally since around 2020. Despite that, he has still managed to rack up an impressive 153 episodes overall since his debut.

One of the places viewers most associate with Alex is Roy’s Rolls, the famous café run by Roy Cropper. After his aunt Cathy began working there, Alex eventually landed a job behind the counter himself, becoming a familiar face serving customers and chatting with locals.

Although he hasn’t always been involved in the soap’s biggest dramas, Alex has played a steady role in the background of the show’s everyday life, something many long-time fans appreciate.\

His 16-month absence marks the longest break the character has ever taken from the series, which is why his return has caught many viewers off guard. Because there was never an official exit storyline, fans had been left speculating about whether the character might have been quietly written out.

Instead, it seems Alex will soon be back where he belongs in Weatherfield.

Exactly how the show will explain his absence remains to be seen, and it’s also unclear whether his return will lead to a bigger storyline. But one thing is certain, for loyal Corrie viewers, spotting Alex back in the café again will feel like seeing an old friend return to the street.

And with plenty of drama always unfolding on the cobbles, his comeback could arrive at just the right moment.