favourite Ryan Thomas has revealed he is returning to the cobbles after almost 10 years away from the long-running soap. The 40-year-old actor - who plays Jason Grimshaw in Weatherfield - has agreed to a limited return to the show give his on-screen mum Eileen Grimshaw a fitting send off.

Doting mum Eileen - played by Sue Cleaver - will be leaving the Manchester-based soap in the next few weeks after 25 years on the show. The dad-of-one began filming on the cobbles back in March, and now he has opened up about his TV return.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk and other press, Ryan admitted that he was nervous to return to the show after nine years away. He told us: "I couldn't sleep the night before.

"Even though I'd been there half my life, I felt like the new kid at school. It took me half a day to get rid of the nerves. It was a mix of nostalgia and gratitude for what the show has done for me. When they told me Eileen was leaving, it felt right to be a part of that storyline for her and revisit where it all started."

When he was asked how he prepared to return to his famous role, Ryan confessed that he had to go back and watch some of his old scenes to find the character again.

He went on: "It was a bit of a shock to the system at first. I even went on YouTube to rewatch old scenes and got nervous. But it became the norm again very quickly.

"Everything about the script made it easy for me. There are the little golden nuggets of mother and son, you know, the flirty banter he has with the ladies and the fact that the friendship he has with Steve MacDonald is still there.

"And of course, he and his brother winding each other up," he teased. Ryan went on to reveal that although he is coming back to Weatherfield as a new man, some things will never change.

The TV star confessed: "Jason is still that happy-go-lucky, lovable guy. He makes it up as he goes along, has a loving heart, and is all about family.

"And he certainly hasn't changed when it comes to women, straight away he is taking someone back home with him and getting himself in hot water with his brother!"

His character Jason left the soap in 2016 after being manipulated by his new boyfriend Pat Phelan. After all the drama, he decided to take the leap to move to Thailand and start his life anew.

But when he returns to the cobbles, his life is less than ideal after suffering with money issues. Ryan told us: "He's struggling for money, his girlfriend left him, and he needs his mum.

"He says he's come back for Eileen, but he really needs a cuddle and his safety net. He's embraced the Thai way of life.

"I really wanted to come back in the builder's outfit, but it made sense that he's in a different phase of his life now. He is all linen trousers and bracelets and beads. It gives you a feel of this older Jason whose life is now away from the cobbles."

Fans will have to stay tuned to see what trouble his character will get into in Weatherfield later this month.