Coronation Street has given fans an update on classic character Emily Bishop after she left the soap in 2016 for what became an extended break. Played by Eileen Derbyshire, the character was originally supposed to go on a short hiatus in 2016, though she never returned to the cobbles.
In last night’s episode, Emily’s close friend Rita Tanner, portrayed by soap icon Barbara Knox, shared an update about the absent character.
At the Kabin, Rita was complaining that Emily had been sending her “spiritual pictures” every single day.
“She’s sent me another one,” Rita said as a curious Brian Packham enquired as to what she was talking about.
“Emily, I’ve told you,” Rita replied. “She keeps sending me spiritual pictures every day on a text.”
ITV
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In the scene, a disgruntled Rita showed Brian the latest snap she’d received from Emily, a picture of Jesus knocking on a door and saying, “Behold”.
When Rita said she was unsure how to reply to yet another spiritual snap, Brian suggested she could send Emily a “disappointing affirmation”, citing a picture of a beautiful beach with a witty, lightly deprecating sentence as an example.
“I can’t send that to her! She’s my friend,” Rita protested, but considered sending one to Jenny Connor as she’s always had “a good sense of humour”.
ITV
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Emily might have left Weatherfield in 2016, but she has been mentioned on the soap every now and then.
Back in 2019, Derbyshire returned as Emily in a video call from her new home to wish happy birthday to Corrie stalwart Ken Barlow.
As recently as 2025 Emily was referenced once again on the soap when Sally Metcalfe compared herself to her while visiting Carla Connor in hospital.
Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
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