Qasim Akhtar is reprising his role as Zeedan Nazir on Coronation Street after a three-year absence, it has been confirmed.
The character - grandson of Yasmeen (Shelley King) and brother of Alya (Sair Khan) - left Weatherfield in May 2018 and since then he has been absent for the death of his ex-wife Rana and the abuse of his gran at the hands of evil Geoff.
Zeedan returns to the street next month for Yasmeen's birthday and is shocked to find out that Alya's dealing with financial problems at Speed Daal after falling for a bank scam.
He offers to bail her out and she becomes suspicious of his new-found wealth - but when he's beaten up by two thugs, will the truth come out?
© ITV
"I'm excited to be back and getting stuck into an explosive storyline that I feel the viewers are going to love," said Akhtar.
"Zeedan's found himself in trouble yet again and I hope everyone tunes in to see madness unfold! Watch this space..."
Corrie producer Iain MacLeod added: "Qasim is a fantastic actor and Zeedan is a character with tonnes of connections in the show, so I'm really excited to bring him back in what will be a really juicy story for the Nazirs.
"Zeedan has made some mistakes while he's been off screen but he's determined to be a better man.
"However, the path to redemption is strewn with pitfalls and Alya and Yasmeen end up getting sucked into the trouble that follows him to Weatherfield from his old life, threatening what promises to be Yasmeen's fairytale ending, after her ordeal at the hands of Geoff."
Zeedan's first scenes back will air in mid-September.
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