February 15th 2025.
As she sat at her computer, Katy Cavanagh couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. After all these years, she was finally returning to her beloved role as Julie Carp on Coronation Street. It had been a long time since she had played the eccentric character, but she was ready to get back into her quirky wardrobe and bring Julie back to life.
But her return wasn't just for her own enjoyment. Katy had a bigger reason for coming back to the show - closure. She was thrilled to be a part of her dear friend Sue Cleaver's exit after 25 years of playing Eileen Grimshaw. Sue had recently announced that she was spreading her wings and leaving the show, and Katy couldn't wait to be a part of her final scenes.
In her storyline, Julie would be reunited with her sister Eileen, who she hadn't seen in years. They would bump into each other at an event, and Julie would be welcomed back into the fold with open arms. Katy was overjoyed to be back on set and working with her friend Sue once again. They had known each other since their very first job on The Cops, and now they were coming full circle.
"It was really lovely to get the call," Katy recalled with a smile. "I hadn't thought about Julie in many years, but I'm very fond of her, so it was a good feeling. And to be a part of Eileen's departure story - it's the perfect way to have closure on Julie and Eileen's relationship."
Julie Carp was a memorable character on the show, known for her warm heart, eccentricity, and off-the-wall personality. And Katy was happy to report that not much had changed since she last played the role. "It's a lot of fun to play her and to be a glass half full kind of person," she explained. "To have her little Doris Day lens on the world - I really enjoy that side of her. Corrie has always been brave in their portrayal of women, and these larger-than-life characters. It's something you don't see anywhere else, and as an actor, you can really take risks and be bold. There aren't many places where you can do that."
But Katy also warned that there may be more to Julie's reappearance than meets the eye. She was clearly hiding a secret, one that would come to light before Eileen's departure. Whether it would lead to a happy ending or not, Katy remained tight-lipped.
"It brings it home for Julie when she sees Todd at the hotel," she revealed. "She has to face the reality of her life, which is really tough. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to do that. Todd has always been good to her, and she's never realized how loved she is. I don't think she has the highest self-esteem, and it's overwhelming for her to see how much people care for her and want to take care of her. She lives in her own little world and doesn't think anyone would care that much. That's what makes her realize she needs to be with those people."
One of those people is Brian Packham, played by Peter Gunn. Katy described their characters as soulmates, and she loved working with Peter. "He's just brilliant," she gushed.
But life for Katy has been very different since she left the show nine years ago. She's been busy writing screenplays and TV pilots and has been traveling between America and the UK. Acting had taken a back seat, but when Corrie came calling, she couldn't say no.
"Writing has taken over for me," Katy shared. "So I was thrilled to be able to take a break and return to acting when Corrie got in touch. It came at just the right time for me."
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