Just months after Eva Price swept back into Weatherfield and reclaimed her crown behind the Rovers Return bar, fans are already being asked to brace themselves. Catherine Tyldesley’s return felt like a proper homecoming, complete with big hair, sharp one-liners, and a family storyline packed with secrets. But just as the drama starts bubbling over, Eva is about to disappear from the cobbles again and much sooner than anyone expected.
Eva Price Is Stepping Away After Only Five Months
Catherine Tyldesley is temporarily stepping away from Coronation Street, barely five months after Eva Price’s much-celebrated return. The exit isn’t permanent, but it does mean Corrie will lose one of its most glamorous and complicated characters for a short while.
Eva returned to the soap in October last year after her original run from 2011 to 2018, sliding straight back into Weatherfield life as co-owner of the Rovers Return.
She arrived with a blended family and plenty of confidence, but it didn’t take long for tensions to surface, especially with her boyfriend Ben Driscoll’s mother, Maggie, who made her dislike for Eva clear almost immediately.
As the months passed, that uneasy family dynamic turned far darker. Maggie was exposed as a killer, and Ben’s youngest son Will, was revealed to have been systematically abused by his paedophile sports coach, Megan Walsh.
Why Catherine Tyldesley Is Leaving Coronation Street
The reason for Eva’s short-term absence isn’t trouble behind the scenes; it’s another major TV commitment.
Catherine Tyldesley is stepping away to finish filming her role as Kate Woods in The Good Ship Murder. It’s a popular Channel 5 crime series that has quickly built a loyal audience. In the show, Catherine stars as first officer Kate Woods, working alongside former Corrie star Shayne Ward.
The series has been a strong hit for the channel and also features former Hollyoaks actor Ross Adams. According to a source, Catherine discussed the temporary break with Corrie bosses well in advance. She reportedly spoke to them about needing time off to film her Good Ship Murder exit, and they agreed. When she signed on to return to the soap, there was uncertainty about whether both roles could coexist. But the scheduling has worked out in her favour.
Despite the show’s ominous title, Catherine’s character won’t be meeting a grim end. There was talk at one stage about possibly killing off Kate Woods, but producers ultimately decided against it. Instead, bosses chose to give the character a happy ending, something they felt viewers deserved after investing in her journey. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.