Former Coronation Street star Graeme Hawley is set for a huge soap come-back, 13 years on

since the death of wicked John Stape. The actor, 50, is about to join axed BBC daytime soap Doctors.

During his stint on the ITV show, which began in 2007, he formed a relationship with

Fiz Brown (Jennie McAlpine) – someone who he’d first met as a teenager when he was working as a DJ.

This should’ve been a sign of what was to come, as he soon fell head over heels for schoolgirl Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) and their affair was exposed on Christmas Day.

He subsequently kept the teen locked up in his grandmother’s attic for a number of weeks, which landed him in prison.

Later, he stole the identity of one of his former colleagues so that he could kickstart his teaching profession again, but when his lies started unravelling he began a killing spree.

His affair with Rosie shocked the nation

After watching Colin Fishwick (David Crellin) – the man who he was masquerading as – die, he bundled his body into a carpet and hid it under the floor of Underworld. He later killed Colin’s mum Joy (Doreen Mantle), and whacked his accomplice Charlotte Hoyle (Becky Hindley) over the head with a hammer.

Fiz was later trialled for the deaths, with John dying in a car crash after initially faking his own death.

In recent years, their daughter Hope (Isabella Flanagan) became obsessed with the prospect of reconnecting with her late father upon the discovery of his possessions at her uncle Chesney’s (Sam Aston) house.

Furthermore, when ‘A Legacy of Evil’, a book detailing his crimes was released, she became inspired by his villainous ways and took a hammer into school.

Next week, we’ll see him take up a new role in Doctors. Playing Jason Chapman, he will star in the episode ‘Sucker Punch’, which is centred on the treatment of rape victim Erika.

It’s not yet known whether he will be a recurring or regular character, though as the show will air its final episode next month it looks unlikely.

A director confirmed last week that the last instalment, which was due to air in December, had been brought forward.

‘Update for doctors fans. The final episode will now transmit on November 14th‘ he wrote.

‘There had been a scheduled break with final ep then being Dec 5th. The break was cancelled and it is now NOVEMBER 14th Apologies for the confusion.’