In a notable scheduling development, a beloved Coronation Street actress is temporarily stepping away from the iconic ITV soap to film her exit from a competing television programme. Catherine Tyldesley, who made a highly anticipated return to the cobbles in October 2025, is set to travel to Malta this spring to shoot departure scenes for her character in the Channel 5 drama The Good Ship Murder.
Balancing Dual Roles in Rival Productions
Catherine Tyldesley, aged 42, reprised her role as Eva Price on Coronation Street after a seven-year absence from Weatherfield. Upon her comeback, Eva assumed the position of landlady at The Rovers Return, managing the pub alongside her new partner Ben Driscoll, portrayed by Aaron McCusker, and their blended family. Simultaneously, Tyldesley has been starring as main character Kate Woods in the Channel 5 crime drama The Good Ship Murder, which is concluding its third series this month ahead of filming for series four later this year.
Approved Time Off for Exit Filming
According to sources speaking to The Sun newspaper's TV Biz column, Tyldesley successfully negotiated time off from Coronation Street producers to complete her exit storyline for The Good Ship Murder. "Cath spoke to her bosses at Corrie about taking some time off to film her Good Ship exit and they agreed," revealed the insider. "When she agreed to return to the soap there was a lot of uncertainty about whether or not she would be able to go back, but fortunately it's all working out."
The source further elaborated that while there were initial discussions about potentially killing off her character Kate Woods, producers ultimately decided to give the character a "happy ending" in series four. "The writers are delighted that Cath is able to return to film her exit," the source added. "Cath and Shayne have formed such an incredible partnership on-screen and the viewers deserve to see how it all ends for them."
Return to Coronation Street After Extended Absence
Tyldesley's return to Coronation Street followed years of speculation and multiple attempts by producers to entice her back to the programme. A source previously told The Sun: "Cath has been away for a while and worked on countless other projects but she really missed Corrie. They've tried to get her back a few times but the stars have never aligned. But when she was approached with the idea for Eva's return, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up."
Embracing the "Old School Corrie Vibe"
In an interview with the Daily Mail following her return, Tyldesley expressed enthusiasm for the direction of the show under producer Kate Brooks. "What Kate Brooks, our wonderful producer, has done is bring back an old school Corrie feeling," she explained. "She is super passionate about that and she is a big Corrie fan and that was one of the reasons I agreed to come back, was because of her vision for the show and where she wanted to take it."
Tyldesley further elaborated: "Finding those character-led storylines, with strong women at the forefront is something Corrie has always done so well and that the audience seem to crave, and I think Kate is feeding that. It's important to move with the times but also know who your target audience is, everyone kept saying they want that 'Old school Corrie vibe, we want it be character led' and I feel the show is nailing that."
Eva Price's Complex History on the Cobbles
During her previous tenure on Coronation Street, Eva Price was involved in one of the soap's most memorable storylines. Her relationship with Aidan Connor, played by Shayne Ward (who coincidentally now stars alongside her in The Good Ship Murder), ended dramatically when she discovered his affair with Maria Connor, portrayed by Samia Longchambon.
In an act of revenge, Eva faked a pregnancy and spent Aidan's savings on a pink Range Rover. The couple later became engaged, but Maria interrupted their wedding to expose the truth about the fabricated pregnancy. Shortly afterward, Eva discovered she was genuinely pregnant with Aidan's child but agreed to give the baby to her half-sister Toyah Battersby, played by Georgia Taylor.
Tragically, Aidan took his own life in 2018, after which Eva became deeply attached to baby Susie and ultimately left Weatherfield in the back of a taxi with the child. Following her departure from Coronation Street, Tyldesley appeared in various television projects including the short-lived sitcom Scarborough before her recent return to the cobbles and simultaneous work on The Good Ship Murder.
Coronation Street continues to air on ITV1 and is available for streaming on ITVX, while The Good Ship Murder airs on Channel 5.
