Sue Johnston returns to Coronation Street 30 years after she first appeared in the soap

PUBLISHED: 18:29 EST, 28 August 2012 | UPDATED: 18:42 EST, 28 August 2012

She promised that sparks would fly with her return to Britain's best-loved soap opera.

And judging by these pictures of Coronation Street's newest recruit, Sue Johnston will not disappoint.

The actress is making a return to the Street more than 30 years after first appearing in the soap - and playing a different character.

Back with a bang: Sue's character Gloria Price takes a swipe at Karl Munroe, played by John Michie

Right-hander: She promised sparks would fly with her return to Corrie, and she does not disappoint as these pictures show

Explosive scenes from filming show Sue's feisty character Gloria Price taking a swipe at Karl Munroe, played by John Michie.

Munroe is the boyfriend of Gloria's daughter Stella, who is played by Michelle Collins.

Viewers will soon see Sue's reintroduction to the soap playing battleaxe Gloria, who makes a dramatic entrance.

Her on-screen daughter Michelle Collins and granddaughter Catherine Tyldesley are woken by someone banging loudly on the pub door.

Sue Johnston behind the bar at the Rover's Return

Sue first appeared in Coronation Street 30 years ago as Mrs Chadwick

Sue Johnston behind the bar at the Rover's Return, left. She first appeared in Coronation Street 30 years ago as Mrs Chadwick, right

Back on the Street: Sue Johnston (middle) with on-screen daughter Michelle Collins (left) and granddaughter Catherine Tyldesley (right)

When they open it, they are shocked to see Gloria, standing on the doorstep who explains how she has been forced to leave her home in Spain and needs to 'lay low' for a while.

Corrie boss Phil Collinson said of Johnston's character: 'She'll be feisty, she comes over from Spain a bit perma tanned and very glamorous! They'll be some real sparks flying, and of course Sue's a legend.'

Following in the footsteps of classic Coronation Street battle-axes such as Ena Sharples and Blanche Hunt, Johnston confirmed her character will be a force to be reckoned with.

According to The Sun, she said: 'Gloria doesn't endear herself to everyone - she's a real Coronation Street matriarch.'

Familiar face: The actress appeared in the soap as a different character but her arrival in Weatherfield is promising to shake things up on the soap

Family union: Sue's character Gloria is overjoyed to meet granddaughter Leanne Barlow, played by Jane Danson

Cheshire-born Johnston is no stranger to soaps. The 68-year-old played matriarch Sheila Grant in Channel 4's Brookside for eight years in the Eighties.

One of her most popular characters has been playing patient Barbara Royle in The Royle Family.

Until last year, she also played psychological profiler Dr Grace Foley in crime drama Waking The Dead.

One of the reasons Johnstone took the role on Coronation Street was so she could be closer to her son, Joel, and baby grandson, who live nearby.

She told The Sun: 'My son lives in Manchester and he's just had my first grandchild. So it made sense to be working where the baby is.'

Johnston also plans to appear in The Royle Family's Christmas special later this year.

Sue with Ricky Tomlinson in The Royle Family

Sue as Sheila Grant in Brookside, with Ricky Tomlinson, in 1987

No stranger to soaps: Sue with her co-star Ricky Tomlinson in The Royle Family, left, and in Brookside, right

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Sue Johnston returns to Coronation Street 30 years after she first appeared in the soap

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