Coronation Street recasts Summer Spellman as she heads back to Weatherfield to reunite with Todd Grimshaw… after actress Matilda Freeman quit the soap
Coronation Street has recast the role of teen Summer Spellman as she makes a dramatic return to Weatherfield next month.
The teen is set to reunite with her guardians Todd Grimshaw and Billy Mayhew after spending the summer living with her grandmother, and will now be played by actress Harriet Bibby.
Corrie recast the role of Summer after actress Matilda Freeman decided to quit the soap earlier this year to pursue other acting opportunities.
New look! Coronation Street has recast the role of teen Summer Spellman as she makes a dramatic return to Weatherfield next month
Following her exit Matilda said: ‘I’d like to say thank you to my second family, the cast, crew and viewers who have supported me during my time on the cobbles.
‘After three and a half lovely years I felt it was time for a change and I’m excited to be starting that next chapter with a new role.’
Summer arrived on Corrie in 2017 when her adopted father Drew asked his ex Billy (played by Daniel Brocklebank) to raise her when he passed away from terminal cancer.
Transformed: Actress Matilda Freeman – who originally played the role – decided to quit the soap earlier this year after three years in the cobbles
Despite struggling to settle into live in Weatherfield, Summer eventually embraced living with Billy and his boyfriend Todd, until the latter was forced to go on the run in 2017 after actor Bruno Langley was sacked from the soap.
Summer continued to live with her guardian Billy despite his battle with heroin addiction, but took a break from the Street over the summer to stay with her grandma.
Now she’ll return to the soap being played by actress Harriet to reunite with Todd after he also headed back to the Street earlier this month, now being played by Gareth Pierce.
Changes: Now Summer will be played by Harriet Bibby, and will reunite with her guardians Billy Mayhew and Todd Grimshaw when she returned to Weatherfield next month
Harriet has previously starred in shows such as Doctors and Brassic after training at Alra North, and only recently moved to Manchester after living in Wigan for four years.
She said: ‘I am so thrilled to be joining the cast of Coronation Street. My family have watched the show for years and I already feel part of the family.
‘Matilda has wished me good luck, which was lovely! I’m looking forward to bringing Summer’s sass and sparkle to the screen.’
Exciting: She said: ‘Matilda has wished me good luck, which was lovely! I’m looking forward to bringing Summer’s sass and sparkle to the screen’