Coronation Street confirm legendary star John Thomson WILL return as Jesse Chadwick - after Sean Wilson was axed from long-running soap

A Coronation Street legend will return to the Cobbles next week in a surprising comeback.

John Thomson, 55, will join Weatherfield again, 14 years after quitting the ITV soap.

The TV alum, who played hapless children's entertainer Jesse Chadwick from 2008 to 2010 will appear on screens just as his ex Eileen Grimshaw returns from a holiday in Thailand .

Eileen is stunned to see him, but even more shocked when she discovers that he has not come to see her, and is in fact looking for her neighbour and nemesis Gail Platt.

And the surprises keep coming when Gail and Jesse reveal that they met each other when Gail was travelling a few years ago and have kept in touch.

Jesse reveals that he heard about Gail's granddaughter Bethany 's Turkish cosmetic surgery nightmare and so seemingly worried about his friend, decided to pay a visit.

However, conflict could be in store for the cobbles as even though Gail is delighted to be reunited with her travelling buddy, her family are suspicious of his motives, especially given his past history with Eileen.

Revealing what his character has been up to since he left the show, John added: 'He did remarry, but that didn't work out.

'He was also badly let down by a friend which culminated in him being left in some dire circumstances. So as a means to reinvent himself he started to travel the world to, as they say, find himself.

John added: '[Jessie's] not really prepared to see Eileen after things ended so badly between them.

'When Jesse left he'd been spreading his bets over two sisters, which is slightly morally bankrupt to say the least. He's changed dramatically because he's very remorseful for that behaviour, so for him to think that Eileen would even contemplate having him back after he made a play for her sister is not on his radar.

'I don't think the new Jesse could possibly entertain that there would ever be anything with Eileen again because of his actions in the past.'

Viewers first saw Jessie arrive in Weatherfield in 2008 where he started a relationship with Eileen a year later.

In 2010 Jesse had a big win at the bookies with Eileen hoping he would treat her.

Instead, he spent the money on a holiday for him and his parents and a furious Eileen told him to leave.

Jesse later returned and believing that there wasn't a future for him and Eileen, he attempted to make a pass at her half-sister Julie Carp.

A shocked Julie told Eileen just as she decided to get back with Jesse. Eileen and Julie gave him his belongings and chased him out of the Rovers, after which he left the area for good.

John's replacement comes after a 'frantic rewrite' following Sean Wilson's axing.

The actor, 59, was set to reprise his role as Martin Platt in October as part of his ex-wife Gail's happy exit storyline as actress Helen Worth, 73, prepares to retire, but now John Thomson's, 55, character Jesse Chadwick will be the one doing the wooing.

A source told The Sun: 'It's been an absolutely frantic, incredibly stressful past couple of weeks for Corrie bosses and scriptwriters.'

'So many new departure storylines for Gail were mooted but they were set on a love interest one – which proved tricky as she buried five of her six ex-husbands. And the remaining living one, Martin, was obviously axed in real life.'

'They wanted a recognisable name and plumped for John as his character was popular with viewers and a real blast from the past.'

It comes after John said he would never return to the cobbles saying: 'I don't want to be known as Jesse Chadwick, children's entertainer, for the rest of my life'

Telling Metro in 2012: 'I've been fortunate. I've had a varied career and like popping in and out of things. I was in it for ten months and felt I'd run my course.'

Sean was reportedly axed from the show two weeks before the news broke with lawyers becoming involved, as the mystery on the cobbles deepens.

But reports suggested he suddenly departed the show after being 'summoned to head office' before quitting for 'personal reasons' forcing Gail's entire exit storyline to be frantically rewritten.

Sean had returned to Corrie in July to film his first scenes, and had already recorded episodes with a large number of stars in the soap.

After The S un first reported the news, a source revealed he secretly left weeks ago, leaving cast and crew shocked and bosses barred from discussing the matter.

An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Sean Wilson has stepped down from filming for personal reasons.'

Sean's agent told the publication: 'Neither he nor I will be making any further comment or statement.'