Coronation Street: 'She is keeping a secret' Alison King reveals fans will see more 'vulnerable' side to Carla Connor on her return... as she insists she WASN'T nervous to reprise soap role

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Her return to Coronation Street was finally confirmed in October by producer Kate Oates, who teased that her character's comeback will 'break new ground'. 

And Alison King, who plays Carla Connor on The ITV soap, has claimed that fans will see a 'different side' to her alter-ego, as she is carrying a 'secret' that will draw out a more 'vulnerable' side to Carla when she hits the cobbles once more.

The actress, 44, teased: 'We will see a more vulnerable Carla who needs her family and friends more than she ever has before.'

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Comeback! Alison King, who plays Carla Connor on The ITV soap, has claimed that fans will see a 'different side' to her alter-ego, as she is carrying a 'secret' that will draw out a more 'vulnerable' side to Carla when she returns to Coronation Street

While Alison and Corrie producers are making sure Carla's 'secret' is kept firmly under wraps, it's believed that it will bring Carla closer to her family - as the Connors have expanded on the street. 

Prior to her show exit last year, viewers saw Carla reacquainted with her father Johnny Connor and her step-brother Aidan, played by Shayne Ward, and step-sister Kate (Faye Brookes). 

Alison explained: 'Carla is at a stage where she is starting to think about life and family, her secret is making her take stock. In the past two years she has acquired a family that she didn’t know she had. 

'Prior to that she was a bit of a lone wolf, she had people like Michelle around her but suddenly she had a family that she does really care about, they mean a lot to her.'

Much-anticipated return: While Alison and Corrie producers are making sure Carla's 'secret' is kept firmly under wraps, it's believed that it will bring Carla closer to her family - as the Connors have expanded on the street

Relatives: Prior to her show exit last year, viewers saw Carla reacquainted with her father Johnny Connor and her step-brother Aidan, played by Shayne Ward, and step-sister Kate (Faye Brookes)

The soap star reveals that Carla has been able to 'switch off' from her new family in her absence, but on meeting Aidan, she is persuaded to stick around in Weatherfield for longer than she had first planned. 

'Seeing him has made her realise she misses everyone and would like to see them and be with them at Christmas,' Alison explains. 'She has been able to switch off from the family, it has been a case of out of sight out of mind but now she can’t stop thinking about them.'

Eager to get back on set with her co-stars, Alison revealed that reprising her role as Carla was like 'pulling on an old pair of stiletto boots'. She said: 'I got butterflies from excitement about seeing everyone, but not from nerves. 

'It was so lovely, like I had never been away and I was happy I made the deicison to return.'

Dramatic: Carla had braved a dramatic time on the show and was at the front of many major storylines - enduring a battle with alcoholism, a horrific rape and a kidnap

Exciting: Producer Kate had confirmed Carla's return in October, after months of speculation on whether actress Alison would be making a comeback to the soap

Reprising her role: Following nine years on Coronation Street, Alison decided to take a break from the soap and pursue other projects while spending more time with her daughter Daisy - she has since said her excitement to return gave her 'butterflies in her stomach'

Following nine years on Coronation Street, Alison decided to take a break from the soap and pursue other projects while spending more time with her daughter Daisy. She had bowed out of Corrie in May last year, with Carla leaving following her failed marriage to Nick Tilsley. 

Carla braved a dramatic time on the show and was at the front of many major storylines - enduring a battle with alcoholism, a horrific rape and a kidnap. 

Producer Kate had confirmed Carla's return in October, after months of speculation on whether actress Alison would be making a comeback to the soap. 

In an interview with Radio Times, Kate explained: 'It's been rumoured that Carla's coming back. But it was never true. Even the latest indications of it.'

Back at it: Alison's first scenes back had her filming with Shayne Ward on location

She went on to reveal her character is set for an explosive return in the winter months, adding: 'Ali has only just signed her contract and she'll be back around Christmas.' 

However, the new producer admitted that things would be different this time round, and Alison would instead bring a 'refreshing dynamic' to the beloved ITV series.

'It's time to break new ground with Carla,' she revealed. 'I didn't want to put her on that familiar cycle of self-destruction, recovery, followed by more self-destruction.

'What we'll have instead are these two strong Connor women – Carla and Michelle – on opposing sides and in conflict for a change. It'll be a refreshing dynamic for us to see.' 

Explosive return? Corrie producer Kate has teased that Carla's return this Christmas will 'break new ground'