Cold Feet and Fast Show star John, 55, will have a romance plotline with Martin’s ex-wife Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, 73, who is leaving the ITV soap.
Bosses had to drum up the emergency tale after axing 59-year-old Sean’s character just two weeks ago — as revealed on Saturday by The Sun.
Cast and crew were baffled by Sean’s leaving.
A spokeswoman said he “stepped down for personal reasons”.
A source said of John’s return: “It’s been an absolutely frantic, incredibly stressful past couple of weeks for Corrie bosses and scriptwriters.
“So many new departure storylines for Gail were mooted but they were set on a love interest one – which proved tricky as she buried five of her six ex-husbands.
And the remaining living one, Martin, was obviously axed in real life.
“They wanted a recognisable name and plumped for John as his character was popular with viewers and a real blast from the past.”
John arrived on the Cobbles as a biker in 1990 and returned in 2008 as Jesse Chadwick until 2010.
His return gives Gail the chance of a last laugh over sworn enemy Eileen Grimshaw — who Jesse dated — before she leaves later this year.
Our source said: “Obviously his character, Jesse, had a doomed fling with Eileen, so they thought having him come back onto the cobbles and flirt with Eileen’s frenemy would be both funny and a fantastic final fling.
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Source: New York Post
