In a surprising twist for Weatherfield, former Coronation Street star Jamie Cho is poised to make a dramatic comeback to the iconic ITV soap opera. The actor, who last graced the cobbles in 2024, will reprise his role as the smooth-talking solicitor Rich Pemberton after a two-year absence from the screen.
Rich Pemberton's Return to the Cobbles
Jamie Cho originally portrayed Rich Pemberton, a lawyer working at Fabian Croft solicitors, with his final scenes airing in May 2024. His departure was intricately woven into an exit storyline for Sair Khan's character, Alya Nazir, whom Rich had employed as an apprentice at the firm. This narrative saw Alya leaving for a job in Ireland, coinciding with actress Sair Khan's maternity leave from the series.
Alya later returned to Weatherfield in November 2024, but Rich remained off-screen until now. An insider disclosed to The Sun that Jamie Cho's return will be a 'short stint,' with Rich back on the cobbles and seeking something from Alya. The source hinted at potential trouble, noting, 'The last time he was here it led to her leaving her life behind and moving abroad for work, so whatever he's got planned might not be good news for Alya and boyfriend Adam.'
Jamie Cho's Recent Projects
This comeback follows Jamie Cho's recent debut in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton, which premiered the second half of its highly anticipated fourth season on February 26. In the series, he plays Lord Stotter, a character who romances Rosamund Li, portrayed by Michelle Mao, the step-sister of Yerin Ha's Sophie Baek.
Other Coronation Street Returns and Departures
Jamie Cho is not the only actor making a return to the ITV soap. In a separate development, Ashley Campbell is set to reprise his role as DC Wiley after a three-year hiatus. The character, who first appeared in 2021 investigating Seb Franklin's fatal attack, last interrogated Max Turner over far-right extremism in 2023.
According to reports, Ashley will return next week as part of a nail-biting whodunnit storyline, where a mystery Weatherfield resident is found dead. A source commented, 'Ashley is a great actor and Coronation Street is glad to have him back. He'll only be back for a few episodes, and fans will have to tune in to see how the storyline plays out.' Ashley Campbell has previous soap experience, with appearances in Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, as well as roles in shows like Call The Midwife and Doctor Who.
Catherine Tyldesley's Temporary Break
Meanwhile, another fan favourite, Catherine Tyldesley, is taking a brief break from Coronation Street. The actress, who returned as Eva Price in October 2025 and now runs The Rovers Return with partner Ben Driscoll, will film exit scenes for the Channel 5 drama The Good Ship Murder. She is scheduled to fly to Malta this spring to shoot her departure from the show, where she plays main character Kate Woods.
A source explained, 'Cath spoke to her bosses at Corrie about taking some time off to film her Good Ship exit, and they agreed. When she agreed to return to the soap, there was uncertainty about whether she could go back, but fortunately it's all working out.' The Good Ship Murder's third series concludes this month, with filming for series four set to begin later this year. Catherine's character is expected to bow out with a 'happy ending,' alongside her former Corrie co-star Shayne Ward.
These comings and goings highlight the dynamic nature of Coronation Street, with veteran actors like Jamie Cho bringing fresh intrigue to long-running storylines. Fans can anticipate high drama as Rich Pemberton's return stirs up old tensions and new challenges for the residents of Weatherfield.
