Nine years after she first stepped onto the cobbles in uniform, a familiar officer is heading back to Weatherfield. Coronation Street has welcomed back one of its most recognisable police faces, and the actor herself has already teased viewers that fresh scenes are on the way, with filming now underway.
Jess Heywood Returns To Coronation Street After 9 Years
Donnaleigh Bailey has confirmed she is back filming as fan-favourite PC Jess Heywood, nearly a decade after the character first appeared in 2017. The officer has popped in and out of the soap over the years. But she is now officially returning to the set again.
The actor shared a set of selfies from the Weatherfield lot and told fans she was spending time on her “favourite street” playing her “favourite copper Jess,” before teasing that there is “some lovely stuff coming up on your teleboxes.”
The posts quickly excited viewers who remember how often Jess has been involved in major investigations. In a video message, Bailey greeted fans and said she was “busy filming and keeping the street of Weatherfield safe.” She added that walking along the cobbles remains one of her favourite experiences and said she feels incredibly lucky to work on what she described as the nation’s favourite soap every day.
A Long-Running Police Presence In Weatherfield
Since her debut nine years ago, Jess has become a dependable part of the show whenever Weatherfield faces legal trouble. Across multiple returns, she has investigated crimes, supported residents and built strong connections with the street’s regulars.
One of her most memorable links was mentoring PC Craig Tinker, guiding him during his early police career. That connection made her appearances especially meaningful to viewers who followed the younger officer’s journey.
Her return now places a long-standing authority figure back into the community. Craig’s story ended last May when he was killed in violent scenes by Mick Michaelis. Actor Colson Smith previously revealed he directly asked producer Kate Brooks whether Craig would die and admitted he actually wanted a definitive ending.
He explained that for him, the right answer was yes because he wanted the character’s story to be completely closed. Smith later called the “hero’s death” the perfect conclusion. And said everything he gained from Coronation Street now felt complete. With Jess Heywood now filming again, the soap brings back a police character who has been woven into its world for nearly a decade. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.