Coronation Street bosses want Emily Bishop back after three year break
The actress took a sabbatical in 2015, after 55 years on the soap
CORONATION Street bosses are keen for Eileen Derbyshire to return to the cobbles.
The actress, 87, took an extended break from playing Emily Bishop in 2015 after 55 years, but producers have said they would love to welcome her back.
Speaking to the Mirror today, ITV said of the star: "The door is always open for her return, but there is absolutely no pressure."
Eileen first started playing Emily in 1960, making her the longest-standing female on the ITV soap.
However, she took a sabbatical in November 2015, with her character jetting off to Peru to visit her nephew Spider.
Her hiatus was originally meant to last six months, but when it was extended reports circulated that the 86-year-old had acted her last scenes on the show.
Three years later and fans are still calling for her to return to the soap, as one of the most-loved characters of all time.
One wrote on Twitter last week: "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."
While others added: "Is Eileen Derbyshire ever coming back on screen, or has she now retired?"
And: "We suspect Eileen Derbyshire has retired - it’s not been announced why her six-month leave is still going all this time later!"
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In November it looked like Eileen's time on the soap had reached a natural conclusion, with a source revealing it would be hard for her to readjust to the fast pace of filming after more than a year away.
They told The Sun last year: "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."
Before adding of bosses: "She has not told them she wants to quit, but those around her know she won’t be back.”
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