Michelle Connor's biological son Alex Neeson has just returned to Coronation Street - but why is he REALLY there?
Die-hard Corrie fans will remember the heartbreaking storyline of when Michelle Connor discovered her son Ryan had actually been swapped at birth - and her biological son Alex came to the street for a short stay.
Unfortunately, things all got VERY messy after Alex was basically a teenage tearaway (who can blame him?!) and Michelle had to make the tough decision to send him back to his family as she considered Ryan to be her real son.
GALLERY: Can you remember all these child soap stars? Here's what they've been up to recently...
Child soap stars - where are they now? SLIDER with cover pic
child soap stars
Molly Conlin (Dotty Cotton)
Molly played Nasty Nick's daughter Dotty Cotton in EastEnders between 2008-10 and caused endless mischief with Tiffany Butcher. But where is she now...
Molly Conlin (Dotty Cotton)
... 16-year-old Molly is now at college concentrating on her studies. After leaving the soap, the actress starred in Annabel's Kitchen, Horrible Histories and Blandings as well as adverts for Ragu Pasta Sauce and Bold 2 In 1.
Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster)
Corrie's bad girl had some meaty storylines including being kidnapped (twice!) and dealing with her mother's breast cancer diagnosis. Helen left the soap in 2011, but what has she been up to since?
Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster)
Six years since leaving the soap, the actress has appeared in I'm a Celeb, Celebrity Super Spa, Celebrity Wedding Planner and Holby City. She has had her first child Matilda with Scott Sinclair. So adorbs!
Melissa Suffield (Lucy Beale)
Before Hetti Bywater, The Square's tearaway Lucy Beale was played by Melissa Suffield. But where is Mel now...
Melissa Suffield (Lucy Beale)
...since leaving Walford, Melissa has evolved as an actress and has since starred in Casualty and played the role of Norma Jean in a musical about Marilyn Monroe.
Ellis Hollins (Tom Cunningham)
Ellis Hollins has played Hollyoak's Tom Cunningham since he was just four-years-old and his storylines have gripped us all, from dealing with his mother's shock death to dealings with Sienna Blake... But where is Tom now?
Ellis Hollins (Tom Cunningham)
Fourteen years later, Ellis is still in Hollyoaks (as lovable as ever) and was even spotted in Ibiza partying! Oh and he won a British Soap Award, no biggie!
Sam Aston (Chesney Brown)
Sam Aston played the adorable Corrie's Chesney Brown since 2003. Speaking about life growing up on a popular soap, he said 'At 16, all my mates were getting fake IDs and going to pubs I always knew I couldn't do that.' But where is Sam Aston now?
Sam Aston (Chesney Brown)
Sam is engaged to his girlfriend of five years Briony Gardner! The star had previously said: 'I do think I'm romantic. I like to treat my girlfriend, buy her flowers and make a fuss of her.'
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle)
Eden Taylor-Draper has played Belle Dingle since 2005, when she fell down a mineshaft on Christmas day. Speaking about being a child actor she said at the time, 'there is no time to go off the rails like Belle, I go home and learn my lines and I am in bed by 9pm!' Where is Eden now?
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle)
Eden is still in Emmerdale and recently was involved in a storyline where Belle pretended to be pregnant to keep her boyfriend. Uh oh.
Charlie Jones (Ben Mitchell)
'Enders troublemaker Ben Mitchell has been played by a handful of actors, but we'll never forget the sweet Charlie Jones who was tormented by the evil Stella. Where is Charlie now?
Charlie Jones (Ben Mitchell)
Charlie is now studying acting at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts – he looks COMPLETELY different to his Walford days.
Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning)
Albert Square's favourite ginge (apart from his onscreen dad Max, obv) Bradley, was a knitted jumper-wearing sweetheart and made us want to pinch his cheeks through the television between 2006 - 2010. We are still getting over his tragic fall, where he saw his grizzly end. Where is Charlie now?
Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning)
We hardly recognise Charlie Clements with a beard! The actor uploaded the snap to Twitter with the caption. "A year ago everyone was up in arms because I looked SO different at 28 to 18.. bet they didn't expect this at 29! #actor 'chameleon', He has since starred as Charlie Brackenreid in Murdoch Mystereries.
Sonny Flood (Josh Ashworth)
Of course you remember Hollyoak's rather swishy-haired Josh Ashworth! His character was best known for dating Amy Barnes and an array of outlandish storylines including attempted murder, underage sex, drugs, drinking and joy riding. Where is Sonny now?
Sonny Flood (Josh Ashworth
Sonny has since completed a law degree at the University of Manchester, working as a paralegal. Miles away from underage drinking a pint at The Dog, eh!
But Alex, now played by James Burrows, has now returned to the Street a decade after his first appearance under very mysterious circumstances - claiming to be a junior doctor who just so happened to be sent to Weatherfield's GP on a placement.
James, who previously starred in This Is England, told Metro.co.uk that although Michelle and Alex have been sporadically been in touch over the years, Alex is very "standoff-ish" towards Michelle when he first arrives.
He said: "He says he’s doing a placement – but is he? In the next few weeks we will see that all unfold but it will reach a point where they make amends."
James reveals that Alex really is just a "nice guy, a normal lad," but his "slightly darker side" comes out through his interactions with Michelle.
However, he stressed that he's "not a baddie," and that he just has "a chip on his shoulder, a bit of swagger, a bit of attitude and a fair few issues!"
Although admitting there's a lot he can't go into at the moment - of course - Alex did say that "all is not as it seems," adding: "Did he orchestrate coming to the street? He claims he was sent there – but it’s really complex. He says it’s a placement but he might have an ulterior motive. It will all unfold..."
This storyline wouldn't be complete without the return of Ryan, so we'll get to see how their relationship plays out, with James likening it to a "Cain and Abel scenario."
He also brought up the fact that Michelle has only just lost a biological son, saying: "Now she’s faced with the one she didn’t think she’d see again."
Eek!
WATCH: Michelle Connor's best Coronation Street moments
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