Coronation Street bad boy Dennis Tanner set to return to the cobbles after 43 years
CORONATION Street's original bad lad is to return to the soap after 43 years.
Philip Lowrie played Elsie Tanner's wayward son Dennis for eight years before being written out in 1968.
Lowrie will return to the Corrie set in March to begin filming. Viewers will see him make his comeback in May.His return is sure to ruffle the feathers of Dennis's old enemy Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache.
Dennis made his debut on the first episode of the Street in 1960 as a good-looking charmer who struggled to stay on the right side of the law.
The 18-year-old character had just been released from prison and he was the bane of his mother's life because he was always getting into trouble.
Corrie creator Tony Warren had originally planned the character as a dark and gritty criminal. But Lowrie's knack for comedy meant he was more of a loveable rogue.
After getting into fights and dabbling in theft and dodgy dealing, Dennis left Corrie in 1968 when he married Jenny Sutton and moved to Bristol to start a new new life.
By 1973, Jenny had left him and Dennis was in prison for his part in a double-glazing scam targeted at pensioners.
Street siren Elsie, played by Pat Phoenix, stayed in Weatherfield until she emigrated to Portugal in 1984. Phoenix died two years later.
After Lowrie left the Street, he became a regular in the theatre and had a string of roles on TV.
The actor, who is now in his mid 70s, starred in hit comedy The Liver Birds and was a regular in Victoria Wood's TV shows including Pat And Margaret.
Coronation Street celebrated its 50th anniversary in December - making it the world's longest-running TV soap opera.
