Soaps’ biggest comeback flops – from Debbie Dingle’s ‘pointless’ return to Corrie legend who quit after 17 days
SOAPS are known for their outlandish storylines – and comebacks are often the most crazy of all.
Bringing back legendary characters – even those that are long dead – is a way to win over fans and tempt old viewers back to the series.
The most iconic returns include Emmerdale’s Kim Tate, Coronation Street’s Jenny Connor and EastEnders‘ Ben Mitchell.
But resurrecting a much-loved fan favourite doesn’t always go to plan.
This Christmas saw a underwhelming return of Richard Hillman – played by Bryan Capron – in Coronation Street as part of Gail Platt’s exit storyline.
Fans were left distinctly unimpressed with his brief appearance in Gail’s pre-wedding dream – after he was killed off 21 years ago.
EastEnders’ bosses will be hoping the return of Ross Kemp as Grant Mitchell – to celebrate the soaps 40th anniversary later this year – will be more successful.
The Sun has a look at some of the worst returns in soap history.
Coronation Street’s Bet Lynch
She was an icon of soapland, played by Julie Goodyear, and her return to the cobbles in 2002 was expected to be nothing short of spectacular.
The character had left Weatherfield in 1995 after being on-screen for 25 years.
Sadly, the much-anticipated comeback proved underwhelming as Julie struggled with the way filming had changes – as well as allegedly butting heads with other actors.
Despite signing a year’s contract, her first return in 2002 lasted just 17 days as she struggled with the new schedules.
In 2003 she made a brief appearance which saw her husband-to-be die on their wedding day, and Bet return to Brighton with Liz McDonald in tow.
Fans were underwhelmed by her lack of storylines with some complaining that all they really got was her catching up with a former neighbour.
“I was asked to go back as a favour. So, yes, I do regret going back,” she said later.
She said the new working regime felt like a “conveyor belt” adding: “I thought, ‘It’s time I put my health, for the first time, first’.”
Emmerdale’s Debbie Dingle
The Dingles are one of the Dales’ most iconic families, so it’s no surprise that Debbie returned after exiting in 2019.
She had been trailblazer as part of the first soap lesbian couple with Jasmine Thomas and also a teen mum.
The character left the village in order to move to Scotland but came back in December 2020 – as player Al Chapman’s mystery lover.
Debbie’s return lasted just six weeks, and many viewers branded her comeback as “pointless”.
The plot line was quickly wrapped up and Debbie has never been seen in the village again – so far.
EastEnders’ Janine Butcher
Janine left the square in 2014 after being sent to prison and actress Charlie Brooks didn’t have any plans to return.
But she did reappear in Walford in 2021 as bosses shoehorned her in as Mick Carter’s brand new wife, despite his iconic pairing with Linda.
Janine was only back in the soap for 16 months before calling time again.
During the stint, she was a huge part of the Christmas storyline which saw her, Mick and Linda caught up in a horrifying car accident in Dover.
Both women were hurled off the edge of the drop, leaving Mick to save Janine and Linda freeing herself.
Unaware his ex-wife had saved herself, Mick dived into the ocean and was lost at sea.
As her leaving storyline, Janine was arrested for perverting the course of justice – but actress Charlie hasn’t ruled out another return.
Hollyoaks’ Clare Devine
Villainous Clare was a fan favourite that everyone loved to hate and her comeback in 2009 was expected to be epic.
But it sadly fell flat for viewers who had been looking forward to seeing Gemma Bissix back in the role.
The short stint on Hollyoaks finished with Clare being arrested for setting the fire that allegedly killed Warren Fox.
She was back again in 2013, in a bonkers plot that made her into a pantomime villain rather than the menacing force she had been.
For this final appearance, she held Mercedes McQueen hostage in a cage surrounded by ferocious dogs and then threaten former foe Tom with a golf club.
This was the final storyline as Clare was killed off and actress Gemma confirmed the character wouldn’t be back.
Coronation Street’s Jim McDonald
Jim made waves when he arrived on the cobbles with wife Liz back in 1989 and has made numerous comebacks since his first exit in 2000.
Fans have complained that the character, played by Charlie Lawson, gets more erratic every single time he returns – which has been four times to date.
His most recent arrival on the cobbles saw him tell ex-wife Liz that their daughter was still alive, thanks to a hospital mix up, and produce a girl called Hannah.
It was actually a scam to get money from Liz which Jim began to feel guilty about when he started to get closer to her and son Steve – but still went through with it.
It is later revealed that the pair couldn’t be arrested because Liz did hand over the cash willingly.
But fans are unlikely to see him again, as actor Charlie has since branded the soap ‘woke’ and predicted its demise.
Emmerdale’s Kelly Windsor
They say it’s hard to return to an old life and Kelly’s reappearance proved just that.
The character, played by Adele Silva, had a brilliant first run from 1993 until 2000, shocking fans by having an affair with her sexy stepbrother Scott.
But things weren’t quite as sexy when she returned in 2011.
Viewers cringed through scenes of her attempting to seduce Jimmy King when he had amnesia from her hitting him over the head on a trip out of the Dales.
Her aim was to convince him that she was the love of his life and the storyline was drawn out for several months before viewers were put out of their misery.
Kelly was booted out of the village and left with her tail between her legs – and Elliot, the son she shares with Jimmy.
EastEnders’ Dirty Den
Soap bosses clearly have an issue when it comes to letting a good villain rest in peace and EastEnders fell into that trap by bringing back Dirty Den.
He had been killed off in 1989 by then-bosses, but 14 years later he magically reappeared, surprising daughter Sharon and spouting a far-fetched tale about escaping and hiding in Spain.
Den, played by Leslie Grantham, returned from his Mediterranean hideout with mistress Chrissy in tow – not that it stopped him attempting to sleep his way around the square.
A particularly toe-curling storyline saw him get Zoe Slater pregnant so she could pass it off as his son Dennis’ child.
A furious Chrissy decided she had enough of his filthy ways and battered him to death (again) with an iron door stop.
Sadly Leslie himself died in 2018, at the age of 71.
Soap characters who've been recast
Soap operas are staple viewing for many people, but even some of the most famous characters have been played by different actors. Here are some examples from over the years.
- Tracy Barlow: Kate Ford took on the role of Corrie legend Tracy Barlow in 2002. Before Kate, three other actresses had played Tracy – most notably Dawn Acton from 1988 to 1999.
- Nick Tilsley: Ben Price has been playing Gail’s oldest child in 2009, but the former Footballers’ Wives star is the third actor to take on the part.
- Sarah Platt: Although Tina O’Brien debuted as Sarah Platt in 1999, she is the third actress who has played the iconic role of Sarah Platt.
- David Platt: Completing the line-up of Gail’s children, David was initially played by Thomas Ormson for a decade before Jack P. Shepherd took over.
- Daniel Osbourne: For almost a decade, the role of Ken Barlow’s son Daniel has been portrayed by actor Rob Mallard. Before Rob joined, two other actors had previously played Daniel.
- Bethany Platt: Fans know Lucy Fallon as Bethany nowadays but before her, three other actresses had stepped into the character’s shoes.
- Kirk Sutherland: Before Andy Whyment took on the role of Kirk, he played by an uncredited actor in his very first appearance.
- Todd Grimshaw: Gareth Pierce stepped into the role of Todd back in 2020, becoming the second performer to play this part.
- Summer Spellman: Harriet Bibby became the second actress to play Summer, taking over the role from Matilda Freeman in 2020.
- Ryan Connor: Ryan Prescott currently plays the long-running character, but Ben Thompson and Sol Heras had earlier portrayed the role.
- Martin Fowler: Although Martin was the first baby born on-screen in EastEnders, he hasn’t always been played by the same person. His current portrayer, James Bye, is the third actor to star as the character.
- Peter Beale: Seven actors have portrayed Ian Beale’s elder son, with the current actor, Thomas Law, in his second stint as the character.
- Ben Mitchell: Ben has been played by a total of six actors – with Max Bowden bowing out of the role in March 2024.
- Bobby Beale: Before Clay Milner Russell, Ian’s younger son had been played by four other actors.
- Freddie Slater: Bobby’s best mate, Freddie Slater, had been previously played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby before Bobby Brazier took over in 2022.
- Chelsea Fox: Former Coronation Street actress Zaraah Abrahams took over the role of Chelsea in 2020. The character had been first played by Tiana Benjamin from 2006 to 2010.
- Lauren Branning: Jacqueline Jossa took on the role of Lauren in 2010, succeeding Madeline Duggan who’d played her from 2006 to 2010.
- Johnny Carter: Johnny has been played by three actors since debuting in 2013 – most recently, Charlie Suff has taken on the role.
Hollyoaks’ Warren Fox
EastEnders’ bosses aren’t the only ones who like to resurrect a character from the dead – Hollyoaks brought back Warren Fox in 2010.
The villainous club owner had allegedly died when ex-girlfriend Clare set fire to The Loft.
In a bid to make the return believable, they filmed flashback scenes that showed him survive the inferno and fake his own death.
Despite all the effort, the return was underwhelming with Warren developing a feud with new town bad boy Brenden Brady.
He was then sent to prison, prematurely ending his return.
Thankfully, when they brought him back again in 2016 it was much more successful and became a fan favourite once again.