Coronation Street fans were overjoyed to see the return of a soap legend on Monday.

Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) has not been seen on the ITV soap since Christmas Day, when she was one of the attendees at Gail Platt’s (Helen Worth) wedding to Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson).

But after two months off-screen, the beloved character made a long-awaited return during Monday’s episode.

She was seen in the Rovers Return, extending her birthday wishes to Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews).

The pair also shared a laugh with Glenda Shuttleworth (Jodie Prenger) over a smutty card Jenny had received.

Upon seeing its ‘pop-up’ contents, Rita saucily joked: ‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen one of them.’

Oo-err indeed.

It was a welcome return for the legacy character, who has been played by Barbara Knox, 91, since 1964.

While it remains unclear what Rita has been up to since we last saw her, on social media, fans celebrated her comeback.

One posted on X: ‘Rita? Oh my feels like years since we last saw her.’

Another said: ‘Give Rita a new storyline rather then her just appearing once in a blue moon.’

A third wrote: ‘RITA! where have you been may i ask? up to mischief i bet.’

‘Rita. The proper order of the universe has been restored,’ another said.