Fans fear 3yr Corrie gap is end for Emily

TRAVELS Corrie’s Emily CORONATION Street fans fear that Eileen Derbyshire – on a break from the soap for almost three years – will never return.

And soap bosses said of the 87-year-old yesterday: “The door is always open for her return, but there is absolutely no pressure.”

Eileen, whose character Emily Bishop joined the Cobbles in December 1960, went on leave in December 2015 for personal reasons.

ITV writers sent Emily off on a trip to Peru to visit her hippy nephew Spider.

Fans said yesterday: “Will we ever see the return of the magnificent Eileen?” and: “We suspect Eileen has retired.”

Another added: “Many of us have grown up with her. All good things end – it’s time Emily was given the send-off she deserves.”