'Now seems to be a great time to return': Coronation Street's first openly gay character Todd Grimshaw in soap comeback

'Now seems to be a great time to return': Coronation Street's first openly gay character Todd Grimshaw in soap comeback

Coronation Street’s first openly gay character Todd Grimshaw is returning to the soap.

Todd, played by 30-year-old Bruno Langley, will move back home from London and his arrival will cause problems for a few of the Street’s residents.

Corrie bosses are staying tight lipped about why Todd has chosen to return, but it’s clear that while Eileen is thrilled to have him back, others are going to struggle with him being around.

And insiders says his presence on the street is going to mean “heartache for more than one Corrie resident”.

Todd arrived in Weatherfield in 2001 with brother Jason and their single mum Eileen. He left in 2004, returning briefly in 2007.

He was last seen in April 2011 when he visited Eileen bringing his partner Jools with him. But it soon became clear that Todd was embarrassed of his fa mily and the street where he once lived. He left but apologised to Eileen for his behaviour.

Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn said: “I’m really happy to welcome Bruno back to Weatherfield. Todd is a much loved character who has real history on the show and his return will leave Eileen with some impossible choices.”

During his time in Weatherfield Todd set tongues wagging when he came out as gay - trying it on with a sleeping Nick Tilsley while dating Nick’s sister Sarah Platt.

 

The feud between the two families continued and to this day the antagonism between Eileen and Gail rears its head with the slightest provocation.

Actor Bruno said: “Having worked extensively in the theatre for the past few years, I am very happy to be coming back to Corrie, getting back on screen, and working with my old cast mates again. Since I left in 2004 I have met many wonderful people, and done some amazing jobs, but best of all I now have a beautiful son Freddie Langley.”

“Right now seems to be a great time to return to The Street, as I have just moved back to Manchester myself, and it’s going to be interesting to see if Todd has changed after being in London for so long, as I have changed as a person too.

“I would like to thank our producer Stuart for inviting me back, and it’s definitely going to make me smile when the Grimshaw family are finally back together again.”

Since leaving Coronation Street Bruno has appeared i n Doctor Who and had a successful theatre career including Romeo and Juliet, A Taste of Honey, Calendar Girls and more recently the 60th Anniversary tour of The Mousetrap.