Jack James Ryan has vowed to return to Corrie so his character Jacob Hay can rekindle his love with Amy Barlow and clear his name.
Tonight millions of viewers watched in dismay as the reformed drug-dealer was forced out of Weatherfield by his brutal dad Damon.
But Jack – who has already lined up a new role in a drama which starts filming next month – says he reckons Jacob will swoop back in one day to reclaim girlfriend Amy [ Elle Mulvaney ] as the love of his life.
Jack, 26, said: “One of the writers said the best time to bring a character back is when it’s going to cause the most damage.
“I daydream that in five years’ time, when Amy’s getting settled down and she’s found the man that she really loves and is about to get married, he could burst through the doors and say ‘I object’ or whatever they say at weddings.
“I think it would be cool for him to get the opportunity to clear his name because I think he does deserve it. He wouldn’t get the best reception but I think Amy would secretly be happy to see him.”
Sure that Jacob and Amy would always have a strong connection, Jack added: “She was his absolute world – she still is.
"I think they are, dare I say, soulmates. They will always have that – but I don’t know if it’s possible to win the Street over for a second time.”
In the soap’s plot, Jacob was faced with fleeing for his life or facing certain death if he stayed. To make his departure more convincing, he pretended to have returned to the drug-dealing ways of his past, leaving poor Amy heartbroken.
In reality he faced a beating from Damon, played by Ciarán Griffiths, for flushing drugs down the toilet and, after more threats, he decided to run because his love for Amy meant he couldn’t risk putting her life in danger.
The actor said he made the decision to quit after two years on the cobbles when bosses started planning out a long-haul future for his character.
Jack said: “I’m still young and I’ve got so much stuff I want to do. It felt like the right time to leave.”
He said he would miss loads of the cast, including Simon Gregson [Steve] and Kate Ford [Tracy] who play Amy’s parents and are “soap legends for a reason”.
Jack said he had enjoyed taking Jacob through his redemption storyline, which involved comedy as well as romance, but he was glad to see the back of Jacob’s fashion choices.
He explained: “I’ll miss his charm but I won’t miss his wardrobe one bit.
“When they asked if I wanted to take anything, I was like ‘no, you’re fine!’ I don’t want any of it. You’re not going to see me knocking around Manchester in double denim.”
