Tony GordonWe thought this Corrie villain’s days on the cobbles were numbered.

We were wrong.

Tony Gordon (Grey O’Brien) will be wondering the streets of Weatherfield well into next year after soap bosses persuaded the actor to extend his contract.

The murderer’s Manchester stay was supposed to come to an end this year, but Corrie writers have come up with such an explosive storyline they’re desperate for him to stay.

The story may be linked to Carla’s comeback, which we reported in March.

Tony will disappear from the soap for a few weeks as Grey had already agreed to take on the role of Uncle Abanzar in Aladdin at the Manchester Opera House. No really. But after a series of meetings with soap bosses he’s agreed to come back to Corrie in the New Year.

But if we know soaps, it can’t be that much longer until he gets his come-uppance.

In other Corrie spoiler news: Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold) is set for the snip after wife Claire (Julia Haworth) threatens a bedroom ban unless he gets a vasectomy.

Would it be really terrible to suggest they just cut both characters instead?

Find out when Coronation Street is next on TV.