05-07-2025
Future of fan-favourite Coronation Street star is revealed after they went 'missing for months' amid ITV cast cull
A Coronation Street star that has been 'missing' from the show for months has signed a brand new contract with ITV bosses.
The actor, who has starred on the long-running soap for a whopping 17 years now, has been rarely seen on screen lately.
However, Mikey North - who plays Gary Windass - recently returned with a major storyline as he fights for his life in hospital.
His future on the Weatherfield cobbles has now been confirmed, with insiders on the street telling The Sun Mikey has signed a fresh deal to stay in the role.
They said: 'Mikey loves working at Coronation Street and bosses love having him so it was a no brainer for him to sign for another year recently.
'Gary's got a huge year coming up and it's all just kicked off on-screen and it's just the beginning.
'There's going to be a lot of Mikey on screens in the coming months.'
MailOnline has contacted reps for Mikey and Coronation Street.
The 38-year-old actor first arrived on screens back in 2008 when he was introduced to viewers along with the wider Windass family.
Offscreen, the actor keeps a private life, though he's married to actress Rachel Isherwood who is known for her work in Captain America: The First Avenger.
The couple wed in 2016 and have two children together.
Before Mikey's disappearance from Coronation Street fans had watched his character have a furious argument with his partner Maria.
Lou had set him up to get back at Maria, framing him for a night of passion that resulted in the heated exchange.
He had stormed out of the flat and apparently went to stay with his mother Anna Windass, but never returned.
Maria then started to worry when Gary failed to return home after his Anna's house.
Corrie fans have since learnt Gary is fighting for his life in a coma in hospital after being brutally attacked.
A mysterious woman is also by his bedside, referring to him as his wife, while calling him Chesney.
Maria and the rest of the residents on the cobbles are unaware of Gary's condition because of the criminal giving the false name to medics.
Speaking about the storyline, Samia, who plays Maria, said: 'Maria and Gary are going through a bit of a rough patch at the minute and initially, she's upset that he's left but doesn't think too much into it.
'As soon as Gary misses Liam's birthday, she has a gut feeling that something isn't right and fears something awful might have happened to him.
'Maria's mind is spiralling but she doesn't stop for a second to think who actually attacked Gary.
'She's aware he has a lot of enemies from over the years who could have potentially wanted to take revenge on him.'
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV1 and ITVX.
