“A Coronation Street troublemaker has thrilled fans, who are convinced he’s made his comeback to the soap.”
Coronation Street fans are convinced a star has made a return to the cobbles after posting a cryptic photo online.
Actor Jack James Ryan joined the ITV soap in 2021 as Jacob Hay, a notorious drug-dealing troublemaker. His arrival certainly stirred things up, and the character was initially disliked by viewers.
Jacob caused chaos on the street, grooming Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) and making grieving Leanne Battersby’s (Jane Danson) life miserable following the death of her son, Oliver.
Over time, however, Jacob’s character took a turn for the better. When he returned to the street, he sought to reform his ways, developing a romance with Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) and moving in with Ken Barlow (William Roache) and the rest of the family at Number 1.
Unfortunately, Jacob couldn’t fully escape his criminal past, as his drug-dealing father Damon Hay (Ciaran Griffiths) appeared and dragged him into a drug smuggling operation.
In 2023, fans watched Jacob leave the street after clashing with Damon and being warned to go or risk Amy’s safety—and the character hasn’t been seen since. Now, three years later, actor Jack James Ryan has dropped a major hint that Jacob may be back on Coronation Street.
On Wednesday (January 15), Jack shared a photo on his Instagram Story from what looked like a Corrie dressing room. In the snap, he posed alongside co-stars Elle Mulvaney and Harriet Bibby, who plays Summer Spellman.
He captioned the post: “We’re so back,” sparking a frenzy among fans eager for Jack’s return to the soap. On X, one fan wrote: “Shut up, is Jacob coming back?!” Another added: “OMG PLEASE.” A third commented: “Oh I hope so.” Reach has reached out to Coronation Street for comment.
Jack had previously spoken about his decision to leave the soap in 2023. Reflecting on Jacob’s departure with Amy and how his friends misjudged him, Jack told the Manchester Evening News and other outlets: “It’s crushing.”
“It’s so unfair, and there’s really nothing you can do about it. People think he’s been lying the whole time and that he was just a drug dealer all along,” Jack explained. He added: “It’s heartbreaking. And it’s not just for Jacob—it’s heartbreaking for me too. #JusticeForJacob.”
On why he decided to leave the show, Jack said: “It was a tough choice because I love the character so much. I was approaching my two-year mark on the show, and the discussions upstairs were very much about what I call the fixtures and fittings.”
Since leaving the soap, Jack has appeared in the ITV thriller Passenger and also starred in the real-life ITV drama I Fought the Law alongside Sheridan Smith.
- 15 years after leaving Coronation Street, where is Claire Peacock’s actress now?
- “EastEnders finally reveals Anthony’s true killer—and it’s neither Chrissie Watts nor Zoe Slater”
- “Coronation Street confirms Carl Webster’s new romance following James and Abi storylines”
- “Coronation Street villain declares ‘we’re so back’ as return confirmed following ‘devastating’ exit”
- “EastEnders’ Joel Marshall looks ‘unrecognisable’ after dramatic transformation away from the soap”
