'Corrie' spoilers: Norris Cole 'to return' in New Year

Iconic Coronation Street character Norris Cole hasn’t been seen on the cobbles in almost a year after actor Malcolm Hebden suffered a massive heart attack in December.

But the soap stalwart, who’s been a Corrie regular since 1994, may be set for a 2019 comeback. Patti Clare, who plays Cole’s close friend and confidant Mary Taylor, revealed on Tuesday’s This Morning that he may be returning ‘next year.’

Phillip Schofield probed Clare by asking her “And Norris is returning from Peru – allegedly?”

“Allegedly. He’s in Peru at the moment, Mary speaks to him on the phone often, so there’s a faint sort of whisper that he might be back, maybe next year?” Clare replied.

Cole has been temporarily written out of the soap following Hebdon’s health ordeal, with the scriptwriters having him stay with fellow Corrie legend Emily Bishop in Peru.

Hebdon was spoken openly about his heart attack, and in a July interview he seemed uncertain as to whether he will ever return to the ITV soap.

Speaking to the Blackpool Gazette in July that he is primarily focused on making a healthy recovery.

“People are asking if I’m returning to the Street, but that’s just not known yet. I may do, I may not, it depends on my recovery,” Hebdon said.

He also revealed the severity of his ‘silent’ heart attack and that the experience felt like a blur.

“The heart attack tore a hole in my heart, they operated and took a chance.”

“From getting into that ambulance at home, I don’t really remember much at all. It was almost like I thought it was happening to Norris Cole, like a soap opera about the NHS,” he added.

Hebdon’s absense from Corrie led to a cruel online hoax that claimed the actor had died.

Norris Cole has become one of the soap’s most recognisable characters on the soap and has become renowned for his busybody and gossiping tendencies.

Cole’s storylines have included being held captive by now friend Mary Taylor to predicting serial killer’s Richard Hillman’s plot to murder his friend and landlady Emily Bishop.

Coronation Street continues on ITV weekdays at 7.30pm.

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