Surprise Coronation Street return confirmed as fan favourite is back for big story
Coronation Street fans were left devastated last year when a fan favourite character left the ITV soap, but they’ll be pleased to know that her return is imminent.
Lou Michaelis (Farrel Hegarty) made quite an impression on viewers when she arrived on the cobbles with husband Mick Michaelis (Joe Layton) last year, quickly befriending Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell) and living up to the promised title of ‘neighbour from hell’.
The family shook things up among the regulars of the Rovers, and it didn’t take long for them to become one of those families that viewers love to hate.
![FROM ITV For immediate release Coronation Street Nightmare neighbours join Coronation Street Residents of Weatherfield will need to watch their backs as Coronation Street welcomes the arrival of new ???nightmare neighbours??? this month. Mick and Lou Michaelis will arrive on the street all guns blazing, making life hell for anyone who dares to cross them. With the Michaelis family moving into Mawdsley Street, at the back of Chesney and Gemma???s house, this will be the very first time Coronation Street have extended the drama across the ginnel. Initially arriving on her own on the 12th February, Lou (Farrel Hegarty) immediately sparks up a friendship with Gemma (Dolly-Rose Campbell) as they recognise each other from Bessie Street School, where Gemma???s quads and Lou???s two young daughters attend. When Mick (Joe Layton) appears on 14th February, the audience will be shocked to realise his true identity - the man with the silver van who has been harassing Chesney (Sam Aston), who is none the wiser to who Mick really is. After developing a friendship with the Winter-Browns, it???s evident that Mick and Lou are determined to create upheaval, starting with a prior connection to Kit Green (Jacob Roberts), leading to them exposing his secretive past. Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com Photographer - Danielle Baguley This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SEI_237927176-02e6.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Lou was very quickly thrust into some major storylines after being revealed as the mother of Brody Michaelis (Ryan Mulvey), who had been bullying Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) in the STC.
It transpired that Brody was also the son of local copper Kit Green (Jacob Roberts), and when Mick found out the truth, all hell broke loose as he sought revenge.
Not only did he kidnap Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove), he also killed poor Craig Tinker, who was simply doing his job. This landed Mick promptly back in prison, and it wasn’t long before Lou followed.
![FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 6th May 2025 Coronation Street - Ep 1157172 Friday 16th May 2025 This special flashback episode focuses on Kit Green???s [JACOB ROBERTS - Right] childhood with Mick Michaelis [JOE LAYTON - 2nd right) and Lou Michaelis [FARRELL HEGARTY - 3rd right] as we see a young Kit finding himself on the wrong side of the law and we uncover what made him the man he is today. Three young actors take on the roles of Kit [BROOK DEBIO ??? 3rd left] , Mick [LEWIS WALTON - left] and Lou [CHARLOTTE ALEX-RILEY ??? 2nd left] as we flick between their teenage years, the secrets that bind them together and their life as it is today. Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com Photographer - Danielle Baguley This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SEI_248794388-458e.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
After attacking Gary Windass (Mikey North) and leaving him for dead, Lou was given her own jail sentence, leaving her three children in the care of foster parents Tim and Sally Metcalfe (Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor).
When the news of both Mick and Lou’s exits were announced, fans were in shock at how short their stint was, though it was later confirmed that there were always plans for their time on the show to come to an end.
A Coronation Street spokesperson told Metro at the time: ‘This is not a shock exit or an early exit. Mick and Lou were brought into the show to cause chaos on the cobbles in the build-up to a major storyline in the summer and they are already making their presence felt.
‘Joe and Farrel were contracted for a specific length of time, some characters come in for a long time and some like Mick and Lou are brought to pass through and leave a trail of destruction behind them.’
They certainly did that!
Though she has been mentioned countless times, with Sally even taking the kids to the prison for Christmas, Lou hasn’t been seen on screen since last July, prior to her sentencing.