Matt Milburn, best known for his portrayal of former footballer Tommy Orpington on Coronation Street, is returning to the cobbles for a brief stint in the Spring of 2025. 

Milburn’s character, Tommy, made waves in Corrie with his infamous affair with the notorious Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), before dramatically fleeing to Spain in 2024. 

After a short break, Milburn has been spotted back on set, having resumed filming shortly after completing his role in the festive pantomime production of Cinderella in Billingham.

According to a source speaking to The Sun, Milburn’s return to Coronation Street is set to be a temporary one, 

with his character reappearing for a limited run in the Spring before he departs again. 

The actor reportedly returned to filming in early January, after his run in the holiday panto came to an end, and his return has been met with excitement from the Corrie cast and crew.

“He was back filming the first week of January after his panto run over Christmas,” the insider revealed. “Everyone was delighted to see him around the set.” Milburn’s return to the soap is sure to intrigue fans, as his storyline left many wondering about Tommy’s fate following his hasty exit to Spain.

Milburn’s Journey to Coronation Street

Milburn first joined Coronation Street in late 2016, though his appearances were initially sporadic. He became more involved in the soap’s ongoing storylines in late 2023, when his character, Tommy, began an affair with Tracy Barlow. The affair caused quite a stir among Corrie fans, as Tracy is one of the show’s most infamous and controversial characters. However, just as the affair was heating up, Tommy abruptly fled to Spain, leaving the door open for his return.

Interestingly, Milburn previously spoke about his preparation for the role and how he used his mum as a practice partner. He explained that, despite the distance between him and Coronation Street’s filming base in the North, he spent a lot of time rehearsing lines with his mum, who is an avid fan of the soap. In fact, she even took on the role of Tracy Barlow when Milburn needed to run lines.

“She becomes Tracy – within reason!” Milburn joked during an appearance on Lorraine. “I’m based down south, obviously Corrie is filmed up north. So when I’m filming, I stay with my mum and, yeah, she learns all the lines with me. She’s been Tracy Barlow for the last four months doing an amazing job. She loves it, it’s great for me and we spend a lot of time together. She loves the show, she’s a big fan!”

Milburn’s light-hearted comments about his mum’s role in his rehearsal process highlighted the bond between the two and how dedicated they both were to getting the lines just right.

A Family Affair: The Influence of Matt’s Brother

Matt Milburn’s journey into acting was heavily influenced by his older brother, Greg Wood, who is known for his role in the popular TV series Brassic. Matt has previously admitted that his big brother is the “whole reason” he got into acting. Watching Greg perform in various plays, Matt became inspired by the excitement and buzz around his brother’s career, ultimately prompting him to pursue acting himself.

In a previous interview, Matt shared that he took his first acting role when Greg was unavailable due to other work commitments. This opportunity led to Matt’s breakthrough role in Hollyoaks, which set the stage for his future career.

“My big brother is the whole reason I’m here,” Matt revealed. “I used to watch him when he was in plays in his earlier years and seeing the buzz he got and the excitement, it made me think that I had to try it. I got a role that he couldn’t do because he got some telly work. Then Hollyoaks was the first audition after that. I’ve been lucky, very lucky. Really lucky. But I am starting to believe in myself a little bit more now.”

This sense of gratitude and growing self-confidence has helped Milburn thrive in his acting career, and his ongoing success in roles like Tommy Orpington on Coronation Street is a testament to his perseverance and talent.

What’s Next for Tommy Orpington?

As fans eagerly await Tommy’s return to Coronation Street, the burning question is whether his tumultuous relationship with Tracy Barlow will continue or if new drama will unfold. With Tommy’s abrupt departure to Spain still fresh in viewers’ minds, his reappearance could shake things up on the Street, particularly if unresolved tensions between him and Tracy come to the surface.

Milburn’s temporary return in the Spring is bound to bring intrigue and drama to Coronation Street, and fans will undoubtedly be excited to see where his character’s story goes next. Whether Tommy will have a chance to redeem himself or whether his involvement in Tracy’s life will lead to more complications remains to be seen.

For now, viewers can look forward to Matt Milburn’s brief but impactful return to Coronation Street this Spring and anticipate the next chapter in the ever-evolving world of Weatherfield.

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