EXCLUSIVE: I’m A Celebrity’s Beverley Callard played Liz McDonald in Coronation Street for over three decades but will she be making a soap comeback?
Beverley Callard portrayed Liz McDonald in Coronation Street for more than three decades.
Recognised for her trademark mini-skirts, high heels and turbulent personal life, she initially appeared on the cobbles in 1989 and remained a key character intermittently until her exit in 2020.
Last month, Liz’s estranged husband Jim McDonald, portrayed by Charlie Lawson, passed away from pneumonia off-screen, with their son Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) receiving a telephone call confirming the devastating news.
According to reports, Jim’s tragic death will trigger a dramatic storyline which will see newcomer Ben Driscoll unveiled as his illegitimate son with Maggie Driscoll following an affair in the late 1970s.
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Jim would have already been wed to Liz at the time, and actress Beverley has disclosed whether or not she’ll return to her role as the former Rovers Return landlady as the McDonald family bombshell detonates, reports the Daily Star.
Speaking on behalf of WhichBingo, Beverley explained: “I can’t now because I’m filming something else but I think you should never say never.
“I loved my time there, you don’t stay in something for 32 years if you didn’t love it, but I think the workload and the way it’s filmed, certainly when you’re in a big storyline, you’re there all day, every day so I don’t think I’d want that again to that extent.
“I think they have great writers on the show and great actors but I just felt the stories were not there for Liz anymore but I’d never say never.”
Beverley, who is presently appearing on our screens in I’m A Celebrity… South Africa, also suggested she believes Corrie bosses are “crazy” to kill off her on-screen husband.
She said: “Charlie is one of the best male actors I have ever worked with. What you see is what you get.
“He doesn’t suffer fools, he’s brutally honest but he’s wonderful and I think they’re crazy for killing Jim McDonald off. I think it’s a shame that opportunity will no longer exist.”
Presently contracted to Fair City, a Weatherfield comeback isn’t possible at the moment, but her fondness for the programme remains strong.
She said: “Coronation Street is the longest-running television programme in the world. I was so proud to be a part of it.”
Coronation Street airs weeknights on ITV1 at 8.30pm and available to stream from 7am on ITVX
