Steve McDonald faced an emotional farewell in the latest Coronation Street episode as the cobbles dealt with the off-screen death of his father, Jim McDonald. While viewers did not see the funeral itself, an unexpected name mentioned during the wake quickly grabbed fans’ attention.
The brief reference to Samantha Failsworth, a fiery character from the 1990s, brought a wave of nostalgia among longtime viewers. Many quickly took to social media to celebrate what they jokingly called the “return” of the unforgettable Weatherfield diva.
Jim McDonald’s Funeral Brings Back Memories And A Familiar Name
Thursday’s episode showed Steve McDonald struggling to process the loss of his father. Earlier this month, Steve had received a phone call informing him that Jim had died. The news left him deeply upset because he never got the chance to say goodbye.
After hearing the news, Steve headed to the Rovers Return where those closest to him tried to comfort him. His girlfriend Cassie Plummer supported him, although he did not realize that she had originally planned to propose before the tragic news arrived.
His daughter Amy Barlow and ex-wife Tracy Barlow also stayed by his side as he tried to drown his sorrows. Maggie Driscoll watched the situation unfold, while Amy pointed out that Jim had been dealing with illness for some time.
The off-screen death followed comments made earlier by actor Charlie Lawson, who confirmed that Jim’s passing would happen away from the screen. Lawson first joined Coronation Street as Jim McDonald in 1989 and became one of the show’s most memorable characters before last appearing in Weatherfield in 2018.
Wake At The Rovers Leads To Samantha Failsworth Mention
Although viewers did not see the funeral service itself, the story moved to the wake at the Rovers Return where several characters gathered to support Steve. Ben Driscoll attended along with Cassie, Amy, Tracy Barlow and Tim Metcalfe as they shared memories and paid tribute to Jim.
Two old friends of Jim also arrived at the wake, which quickly caught Amy and Tracy’s attention. Amy soon asked Steve about a mysterious woman she had noticed wearing what she described as a “ridiculous” coat.
Steve groaned when he heard the question before revealing the woman’s identity. He told Amy that the woman was Samantha Failsworth. Ben reacted with surprise and remarked that she was younger than him. Amy then wondered whether Samantha and Jim had once dated. Steve explained that they had only been friends, but he added that if Jim had his way they probably would have been more than that.
Samantha Failsworth is a character many long-time Coronation Street viewers still remember from the late 1990s. Actress Tina Hobley played the role between 1996 and 1998. Even without a full-on-screen return, the nod to the former Rovers barmaid proved that some Corrie characters leave a lasting impression long after they have gone from the cobbles. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.