Paying homage to Helen Worth, who is bidding farewell to the show after an astonishing 50 years, he added, “I think the connection between our characters was truly special. That’s precisely why the Hillman storyline was so engaging and successful. I never wanted Richard to come across as a one-dimensional, purely evil being. We laboured hard to build a relationship that was, beneath the surface, loving. Thanks to Helen’s remarkable talent, it added so much depth to the character. It was a real pleasure to reunite with her for that single day.”
The spine-chilling scenes that concluded tonight’s episode saw Gail stir from a peaceful nap on her sofa, only to be confronted by a man rifling through her sideboard. Her initial assumption that it was her fiancé, Jessie, quickly gave way to shock as she realized the identity of the intruder.
Brian’s return had been in the works for months, meticulously planned shortly after Helen Worth informed the bosses of her decision to leave the show after half a century of dedication.
This Christmas Eve, Coronation Street, along with fellow soaps Emmerdale and EastEnders, has been treating fans to a slew of major character comebacks. But the lengths to which the Coronation Street bosses went to conceal Brian’s return are truly staggering.
During filming, Richard was smuggled onto the cobbles hidden in the back of a car, with thick blankets draped over his head to avoid detection.