Deaf actress Ali Briggs will be rejoining the cast of Coronation Street as Emily Bishop’s niece according to The Mirror.

Ali played Freda in 2005 and her character eventually left the show after becoming upset by Norris who was jealous of the attention Emily paid to her. She is due to return to the street this July along with her fiancée.

A Corrie source said: “Norris struggled to deal with her deafness and this led to some great comedy scenes at Norris’s expense.

“Freda was cast in the mould of many great Corrie women, she was funny, nosy, and a smart woman who just happened to be hearing impaired. We hope to carry on where we left off with her.”