Coronation Street has released first-look spoiler images of the return of Kimberly Hart Simpson as former sex worker Nicky Wheatley. It is four years since she was last seen on the show but her comeback to the ITV soap marks part of the current storyline about the disappearance of Lauren Bolton (Cait Finton).
Although DS Swain (Victoria Myers) has Roy Cropper (David Nielson) firmly in her sights as chief suspect Daniel Osboure (Rob Mallard) has also been under suspicion over the teenager’s disappearance.
Desperate to clear his name he enlists the help of Nicky, who previously worked as an escort when she first met Daniel. At the time he turned to her for emotional support after losing his wife Sinead Tinker (Katie McGlynn) to cancer.
These days Nicky is an outreach worker in the community and Daniel believes she may be able to help uncover information about Lauren’s disappearance from the girls she supports on the streets. As he goes to visit her girlfriend Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) tags along for the reunion.
It is clear from the images that the pair still have a connection. However, the spoilers reveal that although Nicky is keen to try and help, the girls she works with are scared and vulnerable following news of Lauren’s murder.
It is up to Nicky to see if she can encourage them to open up and shed some more light on who may be behind the disappearance which has blighted the lives of the Weatherfield residents?
Speaking about reprising her role, Kimberly said: “It’s been four years since we first met Nicky and it is once again a pleasure to be back on the cobbles.
“Stories surrounding women within the sex industry have often been forgotten, shamed or unspoken. But not at Coronation Street, they respectfully explore the world these women live in, the impact it has on the community and at some points dangers attached to the work.
“The story of Lauren Bolton has allowed the safety of other characters to come forward such as Cassie but unfortunately led to the devastating effects of conspiracy theories by other folk. Nicky has fought against all stereotypes and I am looking forward to the audience finding out who and where she is today.”
Fans will have to wait until April 19 to see Nicky’s on-screen return but there are plenty of twists and turns in the story before then.
Next week the mild-mannered Roy Cropper will find himself formerly charged with murder after weeks of finding himself under suspicion.
Even though no body has been found, DS Swain feels she has enough evidence to follow through.
As he sits terrified and alone in a police cell it is left to his solicitor Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) to break the news of this latest development to his friends and family Carla Connor (Alison King), Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher), Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) and Evelyn Plummer (Maurenn Lipman).
Coronation Street is on ITV Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm.