Coronation Street spoilers follow.

Coronation Street returning star Chris Harper has weighed in on Nathan Curtis’ comeback to the cobbles.

Nathan has returned to Weatherfield amid the disappearance of Lauren Bolton, prompting Bethany Platt to try and connect the dots. In a 2016 storyline, Bethany was abused by Nathan, who groomed her for prostitution before she reported him to police.

Now, he’s back in town after being in prison, and he doesn’t seem to have shed his old ways, as Harper explained.

“I really don’t think prison has reformed him in the slightest. In some ways, I think he’s even more clever and more manipulative,” the actor said.

“He’s hardened, he’s aware that he can take a kicking and he’s aware of the advantages of getting other people into trouble, so he plays people off against the law.”

The soap star said his character is always “on the lookout for more opportunities to exploit”.

“Give him half an inch and he’ll take a mile. He will spot weaknesses in people and capitalise on them for his own ends,” he said. “I think if anything he’s got even better at that.”

Being back means he’s well aware he could run into Bethany, and he soon realises that she’s gotten stronger thanks to her support network and that it wouldn’t be easy to manipulate her this time around.

“I think he tries to stamp his authority and it doesn’t work as well as it did, and that catches him off guard momentarily,” Harper said.

“She’s definitely grown up. She’s been through a lot, but she’s been lucky enough to be supported by family and friends and there’s a strength she can find in that, so even when she’s faced with the snake, she can stand up to it a bit.

“He’s not used to that, so not being able to push her over anymore means he’ll move on pretty quickly. But I imagine he’ll spend a lot of time loitering and making his presence felt.”