Coronation Street fans have called for the return of Emily bishop.
The beloved character was one of the longest-serving actors on the show but hasn’t been seen in almost three years.
Actress Eileen Derbyshire took a sabbatical in November 2015.
On screen Emily was seen jetting off to far flung Peru to work with charities and her nephew Spider, and though she has been mentioned on and off, she hasn’t been seen since.
Now fans have called for her return.
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One viewer said: “Will we ever see the return of the magnificent Eileen Derbyshire?
“Gone for so long and there’s nothing to explain why other people live in her house.”
A second added: “Is Eileen Derbyshire ever coming back on screen, or has she now retired?”
Another commented: “We suspect Eileen Derbyshire has retired – it’s not been announced why her six-month leave is still going all this time later!”
A spokeswoman for the soap told the Daily Mirror that the “door is open” for Eileen’s return.
The statement read: “The door is always open for her return, but there is absolutely no pressure.”
Actress Eileen first played Emily in 1960, making her almost as long-serving as William Roache who plays Ken Barlow.
Her break in 2015 was originally meant to last six months, however it was later extended with show bosses giving Eileen however much time she wanted off for her well-deserved break.
A source claimed last year how it was unlikely Eileen would return to play one of the nation’s most beloved characters.
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They source said: “She’s 85 and has been out of the show for a year, so she probably would have found it tough to get back into the fast pace of filming.
“That aside, Eileen’s family is her absolute priority, and she has devoted herself to them since deciding on her break last November.
“She has not told them she wants to quit, but those around her know she won’t be back.”
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