She left recently and came back again – but could Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford)

be about to make her absolutely final departure from Coronation Street

as the lure of Tommy Orpington (Matt Milburn) once more becomes an irresistible force?

Tracy left Weatherfield earlier this year for a new life in Spain with former footballer-turned-painter and decorator-turned-football-coach Tommy.

The two had begun an affair after Tracy appointed Tommy, who was in his decorator phase at the time, to do up her bedroom.

It ended up not just being the bedroom that received the benefit of Tommy’s attentions, and when Steve (Simon Gregson) found out about the affair Tracy admitted that it was Tommy she wanted to be with.

To make things worse for poor Steve, Tracy branded him, and their relationship, ‘boring.’ When Tommy was offered a job in Spain, Tracy was happy to pack her bags and leave for good.

‘For good’ turned out to be a matter of only a few weeks, as she was soon back on the cobbles.

And, Tracy being Tracy, was soon picking fights, most notably with Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) who was installed at number 1 as Ken (William Roache)’s carer.

Ken had had a fall while Tracy was away and needed some help around the house as he recuperated. To everyone’s surprise, this odd couple pairing has worked out well, with Ken enjoying the company of the lively Cassie.

Tracy wasn’t at all impressed to find her dad getting so close to ‘the local druggy,’ particularly as there’s also a spark between Cassie and Steve as well.

As well as this, Tracy weighed in when daughter Amy (Elle Mulvaney) was scammed into handing a large sum of money over to the creepy cult organisation The Institute. Tracy and Steve went to the police about this, but were told there was nothing that could be done because Amy had willingly handed over her inheritance to the cult.

Tracy took matters into her own hands and confronted the cult’s leader Rowan Cunliffe (Emrhys Cooper), throwing water over him in a classic Tracy move.

In upcoming episodes, Tracy gets a message from Tommy. He’s says he’s missing Tracy and wants her to come home. Given that Tracy previously said she was lonely in Spain because Tommy was out working all day, she has a few misgivings – but she’s tempted.

She plays the message to Amy and asks her daughter for advice.

Will Amy want her mum to stay in Weatherfield? Or will she urge Tracy to follow her heart – and leave Weatherfield for good?