Coronation Street fans were left shocked when one character finally returned to the soap in a ‘rare sighting’ after months off screen. 

Builder Gary Windᴀss (Mikey North) made a shock return to the cobbles in last night’s episode of the ITV show, after several months away.

The character has not been seen on screen since January, which left fans baffled at the time – his absence was not explained and no plot point was created to justify it. 

Gary’s partner on the series Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) has also been missing from recent episodes. 

But they both came back on Wednesday evening, with Gary telling Maria he wants to sell his shop and buy the builder’s yard in Weatherfield to start afresh – which she is not convinced is a good plan. 

Fans were shocked and delighted to see Gary’s return, taking to X to express their astonishment.

Coronation Street fans were left shocked when builder Gary Windᴀss (Mikey North) finally returned to the soap in a ‘rare sighting’ after months off screen

The character has not been seen on screen since January, which left fans baffled at the time – his absence was not explained and no plot point was created to justify it

One said, ‘I’d forgotten what he looked like’, while someone else commented, ‘A rare Gary sighting!’ 

Another added: ‘Gary’s here too?! Did they finally find the key to the cupboard they’ve been keeping all these characters in?’ 

Someone else said: ‘Oh wow, Gary Windᴀss is still alive? I forgot about him.’  

Last month, avid fans of the soap had questioned where he was on X, with three posing the exact same question, ‘Where is Gary Windᴀss?’, with another adding: ‘Really need his storyline.’ 

Someone else commented: ‘Hmm Corrie mysteries… Gary and Maria have been AWOL for months. Is there a Bermuda Triangle corner in Weatherfield?’ 

Fans were worried the lack of explanation meant the couple were going to be quietly written out of the show – but their fears will have been alleviated by their surprise return. 

But one user on X was determined for answers, penning: ‘Now that Gary Windᴀss is back on the street, have the writers of Corrie got a reason for his absence from our screens for many months?

‘Have the writers forgotten that viewers notice these things?’  

Fans were shocked and delighted to see Gary’s return, taking to X to express their astonishment, confessing: ‘I’d forgotten what he looks like!’ 

Fans were shocked and delighted to see Gary’s return, taking to X (pictured) to express their astonishment

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In Wednesday’s episode, Maria’s concern about Gary selling up shop to start his new business came partly from her fears they could not afford it. 

But her alarm grew when her partner told her he was doing it on the encouragement of Mick Michaelis (Neil Bell) – who is swiftly becoming the show’s new villain. 

And it got even worse when Maria found out Gary offered Mick a job at his new business – so she angrily confronted him, warning Mick is bad news.

But he was having none of it, saying Mick deserves an opportunity and will bring success to the yard – and the men celebrated Gary’s business move together. 

Refusing to give up, Maria took the fight to Mick directly, telling him in no uncertain terms to steer clear of the builder’s yard. 

But everything changed when Maria’s son Liam Connor was cornered by a group of lads who harᴀssed him and took his phone.

He rushed to Liam’s defence, in a move quite contrary to the suspicious view Maria had of him – with the episode leaving fans on a cliffhanger of what will happen next.

The soap confirmed last week that Gary would be returning to the cobbles. 

T he soap confirmed last week that Gary would be returning to the cobbles following his absence 

Throughout the whole of last month, avid fans of the soap had questioned where he was on X (pictured)

The joy of Gary and Maria’s return comes after the heartbreaking news Coronation Street icon Julie Carp (pictured) will be killed off next week 

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He was last seen in January when Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan) died after he was stabbed by his brothers Matty (Harry Lowbridge) and Logan (Seamus McGoff).

But after months of fretting by fans about where Gary had gone, a post on the show’s official X account set the record straight. 

The page shared a picture of Gary and Mick Michaelis (Joe Layton) in the Bistro having a catch up.

They wrote on the post: ‘Next week: Carl makes a move on Abi, Maria fears Mick is bad news and Daisy says goodbye to Weatherfield.’

The joy of Gary and Maria’s return comes after the heartbreaking news that Coronation Street icon Julie Carp will be killed off next week.

Actress Katy Cavanagh, 51, joined the ITV soap as the factory machinist back in 2008.

The star’s first stint on the cobbles was from 2008 to 2015. She later rejoined the cast this year.

But now 17 years since her debut, Katy’s alter-ego Julie is being killed off next week after a battle with a rare form of cancer Sarcoma.

Julie returned to Weatherfield in February and shared the heartbreaking news of her diagnosis with her family, leaving sister Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) heartbroken.

Coronation Street is available to watch on ITV.