Todd, Eileen and Jason on Coronation Street / ITV
Returning Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas has said that his character Jason is coming back to Weatherfield for his “safety net”.
The eldest son of Eileen (Sue Cleaver), Jason left the cobbles behind him for a new life in Thailand in 2016 and has been living there ever since.
For the first time in nearly a decade though, he will set foot on the Street next week to reunite with his mum and brother Todd (Gareth Pierce), much to their shock.
“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,” said Thomas, who is reprising his role for a short stint to tie in with the departure of Cleaver next month.
“And he certainly hasn’t changed when it comes to women, straight away he is taking someone back home with him and getting himself into hot water with his brother!”
Talking about why Jason has decided to come home, he revealed: “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.”
Jason re-enters the Rovers as a visually-changed man after the change of pace in Thailand – a far cry from his days as the local builder.
“He’s embraced the Thai way of life,” Thomas continued. “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.”
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7am on ITVX and at 8pm on ITV1.
