Coronation Street devotees are bracing themselves for a gut-wrenching storyline as they speculate a grim fate awaiting Corrie icon Emily Bishop.

Eileen Derbyshire, who immortalised Emily since her 1961 arrival in the famed cobbles, has won the hearts of viewers making Emily one of the soap's most cherished characters.

Clocking up an impressive tenure, Eileen waved goodbye to the role only in 2016, sitting just behind the legendary Bill Roache as Ken Barlow, who's been gracing our screens non-stop since the soap's inception in 1960.

Citing personal reasons, Eileen stepped away from the limelight with Emily's absence on the show chalked up to an extended jaunt to Peru to be with family.

The plot took a turn when word got out that Emily settled in Edinburgh. Yet Corrie enthusiasts got a slice of nostalgia when she made a cameo during a 2019 episode to mark Ken's 80th birthday, albeit via a heartfelt video message instead of clinking glasses at the Rovers Return, reports the Express.

Insiders whispered about the showrunners' eagerness to lure Eileen back to Weatherfield. Despite these hopes, the rumour mill among shaken fans suggests that the end might be nigh for Emily, as whispers grow louder that she "clearly not returning."

On one fan forum, musings emerged about whether the show should craft a dramatic exit fitting for such a venerated and long-standing figure, pondering: "Is it time she was killed off as she is clearly not returning to the show? Time for Emily to have a proper send-off deserving for a long-serving character."

One person commented: "I would like Emily to return and give her an onscreen death."

Another joined in: "She's such an iconic character someone on the Street should get some notice about it.."

Another chimed in, stating: "I don't think there is a chance Eileen Derbyshire will return again."

And yet another viewer added: "They still have the power to kill her off-screen and give her an on-screen funeral. But I guess after all this time there isn't really much point."