Coronation Street star Angela Griffin to return as Fiona Middleton after 20 years and is set to cause major drama with explosive love child plot

Coronation Street star Angela Griffin is set to reprise her role in the television soap after more than 20 years away.

The actress, 42, played hairdresser Fiona from 1992 and appeared in more than 250 episodes, before leaving the cobbles behind in 1998.

And according to reports, the character is set to be embroiled in a huge love child storyline with her ex Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), the Daily Mail reports.

Fiona's return will rock Steve's world as she informs him that he's the father of her daughter Emma Brooker, played by Alexandra Mardell.

The bubbly young hairdresser has been living and working on the street alongside Steve for over a year, but he had no idea she was his own flesh and blood.

A source revealed to The Sun: "Angela's return is short and sweet but it has huge implications for Steve.

"She's back on screens and will find out that the dates that he was with Fiona tally up to when Emma was born."

Angela Griffen (second from left) with castmates William Tarmey, Tracy Shaw and Liz Dawn during her previous time on Coronation Street. Photo / Supplied

MailOnline have contacted representatives for Angela and Coronation Street for comment.

Steve had dated Fiona in the past, but she also had a shock affair with his dad Jim McDonald.

The illicit fling was exposed just as Fiona was about to tie the knot with Alan McKenna, causing the two to split. They shared a son together called Morgan.

Steve and Fiona later reconciled, but they soon parted ways after she discovered his affair with her best friend Maxine Peacock.

In upcoming scenes, a stunned Steve is told my his mum Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) that Emma would have been conceived in 1998, when he and Fiona were dating.

Flabbergasted by her son's inability to put two and two together, Liz tells him: "No wonder you failed maths. Count back nine months."

Steve then says: "How do you remember that? I can't remember who I was seeing last month let alone in 1998? Emma can't be my daughter. I don't want another daughter."

Since leaving Coronation Street, Angela has gone on to star in a number of top dramas, including Holby City, Cutting It and Waterloo Road.

She's also appeared in Mount Pleasant, Inspector Lewis and Ordinary Lies.

Meanwhile, Steve has had his fair share of drama on the cobbles, including tying the knot a whopping seven times.