Coronation Street confirms reason for Harvey's return amid 'intense' relationship with brother Damon

It's not looking good for Damon as someone calls on Harvey for help

Coronation Street has confirmed the reason behind Harvey Gaskell's return - and it's not looking good for Damon Hay. It was revealed earlier this year that Damon was the brother of killer and drug kingpin Harvey as he made an appearance in Weatherfield and reunited with his son, Jacob Hay.

It soon became clear that Damon's intentions for finding his son weren't pure ones and he soon started to run his own drug operation from the Bistro. And he didn't play happy families for long as he later bullied Jacob out of Weatherfield, furious with him for messing up a £50,000 drugs delivery, despite turning his life around.

But Damon has been gone for months after Adam Barlow's interference after the bad boy had an affair with his wife, Sarah, saw him having to disappear from the street.

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Meanwhile, Harvey has been banged up since Halloween 2022 when he shot and killed Natasha Blakeman, believing her to be Leanne Battersby, after escaping from a prison van to seek revenge after she played her part in getting him busted for his drug-related crimes.

It has now been revealed that Harvey and Damon are set to come face-to-face on-screen for the first time in upcoming Corrie scenes as Will Mellor and Ciaran Griffiths reprise their roles.

While a reunion looked like it could be on the cards for estranged husband and wife Adam and Sarah Barlow during Sunday night's (December 31), just as a new day, and a New Year, dawns on the street, Damon walks back into Sarah’s life, determined to take his revenge on Adam, for securing his initial exit from Weatherfield, and win back the love of his life, things change dramatically.

Kidnap, blackmail and double-dealing are all come into play as Sarah has a big decision to make which could impact on her family’s future not just her own.

New pictures released by Corrie have now shown Ciaran and Will filming together from the prison where Harvey is currently residing but it's not just Damon who will be seeking to speak to Harvey.

It has been revealed that after being involved in his kidnap, Adam will seek revenge on Damon and heads to the prison to seek a deal with Harvey -to help him get rid of Damon once and for all. Speaking of Harvey's reaction: "He can see that Adam’s a desperate man and that's the perfect position for Harvey to find someone in. If he’s desperate he’ll do things for him and Harvey will find it easy to get him to do what he wants him to do.

"Harvey doesn’t mind getting rid of his brother if that’s what is needed. As far as he's concerned, his brother had him beaten up, he’s a bit of a threat, so if he’s collateral damage then so be it. Harvey’s playing everybody and they’re all singing from his hymn sheet. He’ll make Adam do things that he's not comfortable with, he'll see how far he can push him.

"I don’t think he really trusts Adam, I'm not sure Harvey trusts anybody. But while he's in prison he'll play these games, it's like it keeps him going while he's inside to have these mind games. He's a puppet master and playing with people's lives keeps him entertained if nothing else. But also if there is a chance of him getting out, through somebody like Adam doing something dodgy, then he’s going to use it."

Corrie viewers will see just how bad Harvey is when he agrees to get rid of his own brother, but the only thing that ever seems to get to him is the mention of their mum. But could Damon use this against Harvey? "When Damon’s on the backfoot he thinks how can I hurt Harvey, what can I say, and we know from that scene with Sam [Blakeman - played by Jude Riordan] that’s mentioning his mum," Will said.

"Their mum passed away when Harvey was young, he's got a picture of her on his prison wall and after that conversation with Sam he wrecked his cell thinking about it. That's his weakness, he knows his mum wouldn’t be proud of him, but it’s too late and she’s not here. He can't think about it, he can't be weak in prison. Damon tries to send the ball back over the net by saying while you’re in here think of that but all that’s going to do is make Harvey go even deeper.

"While he's stuck in prison what he has got is his mind and he's thinking if you’re going to hurt I’ll come at you, your friends, your loved ones, their kids, he doesn't stop. It's not going to make him happy but it's all about getting even and making sure people respect because in prison that's all you've got."

Speaking about what's to come between the pair, Ciaran said; "There are some big, long scenes between them and I proper really enjoyed doing them with Will. It felt like something different, like those scenes really have a journey. They're intense. Will’s a great actor, I like how in the zone he is with the character before you even go for a take, it makes you sharpen up and both get on it."

He added of Harvey and Damon's dynamic: "It’s intense, they don’t like each other. They’ve got different dads and I think Damon was always pushed to the bottom of the pile a bit growing up, always the one getting a clip round the ear. I think they’re both holding onto a lot of resentment, they don’t like each other at all, even though they’re half brothers."