Coronation Street's incoming boss is keen to bring Helen Flanagan, Keith Duffy and Georgia Taylor back to the show.

Helen Flanagan

Helen Flanagan

Kate Oates will take over the reins of the ITV soap in the new year and she is reportedly interested in re-introducing characters such as Rosie Webster (Flanagan), Toyah Battersby (Taylor) and even Ciaran McCarthy, who Duffy played for three years.

A 'Corrie' source said: "She loved the idea of bringing Toyah back and said there would be endless opportunities for the character to be exploited after being away for so long.

"The same went for Rosie. She said again there would be loads of terrific storylines."

Should any of the trio reprise their roles on the cobbles their returns are expected to go down well with fans of the show.

The source added to The Sun newspaper: "All three are well-loved characters and getting any of them back would be hugely popular with Corrie fans."

Helen - who has five-month-old daughter Matilda with Aston Villa footballer Scott Sinclair - portrayed ditzy Rosie for 12 years and later revealed depression was the "main reason" for quitting the soap.

In one interview after her departure the 25-year-old star admitted she was grateful for the role but didn't like her character's "bitchiness".

Helen's return to the soap was recently rumoured, but Brooke Vincent - who plays Rosie's sister Sophie Webster in the show - ruled out the possibility in September.

She said: "She's just had a baby, so I don't think she'll come back.

"I've been texting her and I've got pictures and things. But I think with Helen she always wanted to be a mum and now she's really settled."

Georgia portrayed Toyah for six years and faced some tricky storylines, including one where her character was raped.

The 35-year-old actress has gone on to star in 'Casualty' and 'Law and Order: UK', and earlier this year she admitted she has "great memories" of 'Corrie'.

Former Boyzone singer Keith portrayed cheeky chappie Ciaran from 2002 to 2005 and despite the role he insisted earlier this month that he finds it "difficult" to be taken seriously as an actor because of his pop star past.

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