Coronation Street villain Josh Tucker to RETURN to the cobbles

Coronation Street fans up and down the country breathed a collective sigh of relief when Josh Tucker left Weatherfield - even if he hadn't been brought to justice, at least he was gone. However, Corrie fans should brace themselves for the return of the evil mechanic, as Ryan Clayton is set to return to the soap in next week's episodes.

Josh left Coronation Street at the end of May this year after David Platt had bravely gone to the police to reveal that Josh had raped him, but he was infuriatingly released without charge after being questioned by the police.

This was even after David's girlfriend Shona Ramsey was able to track down another of Josh's victims who had worked with Josh before, but even he wasn't able to help in securing a conviction.

Although Josh fled Weatherfield after the police released him, he'll end up back on the soap next week after Billy Mayhew discovers that David has been following Josh to ensure that he doesn't attack anyone else, and at that moment is watching a man who David says has been spending a lot of time with Josh lately.

Billy manages to persuade David to go home, but the vicar can't walk away from the situation without trying to help the man, and warns him to stay away from Josh and reveals his violent past.

But Billy's actions have severe consequences, as the police later call round to Billy's house to reveal that the man he spoke to severely beat Josh to an inch of his life, causing Billy to go and visit him in hospital - and even pray for him.

However, former show boss Kate Oates told Metro.co.uk that Josh would get his comeuppance - just not in a traditional way.

She told the publication, "I am not afraid of controversy – it’s more important to reflect the truth. If you tie things up with a bow, there’s a danger people take away from that, 'We don’t need to talk about this anymore, it’s done.'

"But it’s not done I think it’s important not to artificially tie things up. I believe that David’s perpetrator wouldn’t be convicted in this instance. We will have to tie the storyline off, it will find an ending which will surprise people David will get a catharsis and some acknowledgement but he might not get that legally. In soap, a lot of the justice often comes from the community."

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.

• Coronation Street