Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street's producer Kate Brooks has shared her long-term plans for the Rovers Return as a new family descends on the iconic pub. The ITV soap recently announced that Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) will be returning to Weatherfield as the new landlady of The Rovers, but she won't be alone.
As previously confirmed, Eva is coming back with her new partner Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker) and Ben's meddling mum Maggie (Pauline McLynn) later this month. Ben's two sons, as well as Eva's daughter Susie, will also be part of the new clan.
Speaking to us at a Corrie press event this week, Brooks explained why she felt it was the right time to give The Rovers a shake-up.
Praising the new family, she commented: "There's just so much warmth, joy and happiness in that room with all those people. For me the pub works really well if there's a big family at the heart of it – a family that really loves each other. These guys love each other with a real fierceness and a real protectiveness.
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"Obviously there are niggles, issues and dramas, as happens to every family. But at the heart of it, there's a real loyalty to each other.
"The other thing we wanted to bring to it was that sense of community. Eva's obviously got links to Toyah and Leanne in the Street, so she's a familiar face.
"Eva's such an amazing character who's so, so, so Coronation Street. To bring her back with family – and with a mother-in-law who is definitely going to ruffle many feathers – it felt like the time was right to bring that kind of dynamic and energy into the pub."
Brooks continued: "We'll see more of the back room and how they interact with your Glendas, Seans and the staff of the pub as well. We just wanted to make sure that they arrived with a lot of energy, a lot of love – that people just want to watch this family and watch the stories unfold with this family.
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"You watch their debut episode and you just care about every single member of that family straight away. You fall in love with them – and going forward, you just continue to fall in love with them because they are just a delight to watch.
"Pauline, Aaron and Cath are just a breath of fresh air. They've come in, they've hit the ground running, they're super busy – and they continue to be really busy moving forward because there's lots of stories for them."
Brooks tipped the relationship between Eva and Maggie as one to watch, as Eva struggles with the imposing presence of her future mother-in-law.
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"Ben and Eva adore each other," she explained. "But you've got Maggie, who is this mother-in-law who clashes with Eva on a daily-slash-hourly basis! It's really funny – there's some really funny stuff. They're gifted comedic actors as well, so there's a real energy and buzz in the place.
"There's so much more to come with them – really family-centric dramas. Friendships are formed and developed. You've just got this family at the heart of the Street now, who just warmly invite people into their space at the pub.
"The pub has never looked more lively and full of life. I am absolutely in love with the Driscolls."
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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