Coronation Street boss hints at plans to bring back Julie Goodyear's legendary character Bet Lynch after a 17 year absence

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She's the legendary cobbles character, famed for her love of men and leopard print.

And 17 years after she last appeared on Coronation Street, show boss Iain MacLeod hinted at the idea of Bet Lynch making a comeback. 

The series producer teased that he'd love a return for Julie Goodyear’s character as he revealed that the idea of bring her back has often been talked about.

Rovers return? 17 years after she last appeared on Coronation Street, show boss Iain MacLeod hinted at the idea of Bet Lynch making a comeback 

Speaking to Daily Star Sunday, he said: ‘Bet is an icon. The idea of bringing her back is talked about occasionally. As any Corrie viewer would say, she is up there in the pantheon of Corrie greats.

‘So it’s always tempting to bring her back.’

77-year-old Julie’s alter-ego last appeared on the ITV soap in November 2003.

She first appeared on the cobbles way back in 1966, before being a series regular between 1970 and 1995.

In demand: According to reports, the series producer teased that he'd love a return for Julie Goodyear’s character as he revealed that the idea of bring her back has often been talked about (Julie, pictured in 2012)

Since then she’s returned for short stints in 2002 and 2003.

However, though Iain revealed he would love to have the platinum blonde barmaid back on the show, he admitted that there are no plans to bring her back at the moment.

But, he tantalisingly didn’t rule the idea out completely as he teasingly added the word ‘yet’.

He added to the publication: ‘At the moment we’ve not given in to the temptation. There are no plans to do that…yet.’

In the past Iain has been instrumental in bringing back other cobbles legends including Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole) and Charlie Lawson (Jim McDonald).

Street legend: 'Bet is an icon. The idea of bringing her back is talked about occasionally. As any Corrie viewer would say, she is up there in the pantheon of Corrie greats'

Character: 77-year-old Julie’s alter-ego last appeared on the ITV soap in November 2003. She first appeared on the cobbles way back in 1966, before being a series regular between 1970 and 1995

Meanwhile, Iain discussed the soap’s upcoming 60th anniversary episodes, adding: It will have a little bit of everything so that nobody goes away unsatisfied.

‘We won’t be doing a live episode. It’s time to do something different. But it won’t be any less ambitious.’

Elsewhere, there's set to be further drama on the show as the 10,000th episode will reveal that one character dies and another will depart Weatherfield for good. 

The hour-long special will see Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) make the devastating discovery that her estranged husband Dennis Tanner (Phillip Lowrie) has died. 

Meanwhile, as several residents gather to join Rita in scattering Dennis' ashes in Blackpool, the events of the day lead to one resident making the decision towave goodbye to the cobbles. 

Sad: Coronation Street's 10,000th episode sees Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) make the devastating discovery that her estranged husband Dennis Tanner (Phillip Lowrie) has died

Pastures new: As several residents gather to join Rita in scattering Dennis' ashes in Blackpool, the events of the day lead to one resident making the decision to leave the cobbles for good

The special installment of the soap, which airs on February 7th, will see viewers taken on a trip down memory lane as the residents reflect on the past.

Soap bosses are staying tight-lipped on who will quit the street, with fans having to wait to find out who it is.

Following her loneliness at Christmas, paired with the death of Dennis, could Rita be saying goodbye after decades on the street?

Speaking of the episode, producer Iain said: '10,000 episodes! Not bad for a programme which one newspaper said in 1960 was "doomed from the outset."

'I am first and foremost a massive fan of the show and I watched this landmark episode with absolute glee. It is uniquely Corrie: funny, poignant and characterful - and a glorious homage to the comedic charabanc trips of times past, packed with strong female characters and sparkling dialogue.'

He added: 'It’s a really great exhibition of Coronation Street’s classic qualities as we start a new decade on the cobbles.'

Saying goodbye? Following her loneliness at Christmas, paired with the death of Dennis, could Rita be saying goodbye after decades on the street?