Coronation Street confirms new owners of the Rovers

A familiar face brings two newcomers along for the ride.

Coronation Street has announced the return of a familiar face as the new landlady for the Rovers Return - alongside two brand new castings.

Catherine Tyldesley is back filming as her bubbly alter ego Eva Price for the first time since 2018, but Eva won't be alone.

Aaron McCusker and Pauline McLynn, acclaimed actors who starred in Shameless as Jamie McGuire and Libby Croker respectively, are joining the ITV soap as Eva's new partner and his interfering mother!

McCusker will play Ben Driscoll, and McLynn will star as Maggie, with Eva and Ben set to be unveiled as the next owners of the Rovers this October.

Viewers will recall that Eva previously worked at the iconic pub as a barmaid, and endured an on-off romance with Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward), during which time she fell pregnant.

Eva agreed to give the baby to Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor), the step-sister of Eva's half-sister Leanne (Jane Danson), but after Aidan tragically took his own life, Eva eventually took baby Suzie back and left to start afresh.

Now Eva is poised for a catch-up with Leanne and Toyah, as well as her old friends on the cobbles - but the question is, what has she been up to in her time away?

And just how will Eva, Ben and Maggie, as well as little Suzie and Ben's two sons, settle into the community?

EastEnders fans may also recognise McLynn as Yvonne Cotton, wife of villainous Nick (John Altman), while McCusker starred as Jim Hutton, Freddie Mercury's boyfriend, in Bohemian Rhapsody.

The soap has promised that the Price-Driscolls will arrive with 'a suitcase full of secrets', and Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks shared: "We are beyond thrilled that Eva is returning as the landlady of the Rovers, with her new blended family in tow.

"The Driscolls do not arrive quietly, so expect big drama, explosive secrets and raucous knees-ups galore," she added.

"To have actors of Catherine, Aaron and Pauline's considerable calibre at the beating heart of this family is absolutely wonderful, and we can't wait for you to get to know and fall in love with them as much as we have already done.

"Strap yourselves in, it's going to be an exciting and eventful ride.”