Who is Jim McDonald actor Charles Lawson, when did he return to Coronation Street and what else has he been in?

CHARLES Lawson is best known for playing scheming Jim McDonald in Coronation Street.

Here's everything you need to know about him now he's made a dramatic return to the soap...

Who is Charles Lawson? What's his background?

Charlie Lawson, 59, is a Northern Irish actor from Enniskillen.

He attended Campbell College in Belfast before going on to study at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

He's best known for playing Corrie's Jim McDonald from 1989 until 2000 - and continued to make guest appearances in the role until 2014.

Besides his long-term role on the Cobbles, Charlie has also appeared in Doctors, The Bill, and Brotherhood to name a few.

In 2009 he advertised hot dogs in Germany - appearing alongside an eight-foot Frankfurter with an overdubbed catchphrase that said "Look at the size of my sausage" in German.

Charlie and his partner Debbie Stanley opened a farm shop in Prestbury, Cheshire in 2010.

When did Charles Lawson return to Coronation Street as Jim McDonald?

Charles Lawson returned to Weatherfield as Jim McDonald on Friday, September 7.

He was sent to prison in 2011 after trying to rob a bank so that Steve and Liz would have enough money to buy the Rovers.

He was due to be released in 2018 so his return was highly anticipated.

But he didn't come back alone - he has brought Hannah who is posing as Liz's dead daughter Katie as part of an elaborate scam.

What else has Charles Lawson starred in?

In 1982 Charles played Seamus Duffryn in the Yorkshire television miniseries Harry's Game which was based on the troubles in Northern Ireland.

In 1989 he played Trigg in the film The Firm and has also had parts in Doctors, Bread, The Bill and Rosemary & Thyme.

In 2015 he made a guest appearance in the Comedy Central sitcom Brotherhood as the father of the three main characters.

He also played Doctor Black in the 2016 BBC drama My Mother & Other Strangers.