Coronation Street actress Nicola Thorp has showed off a new tattoo on her neck of her co-star Julia Goulding.
The actress, 30, has a life-like image of Julia on the side of her neck in celebration of her pal’s hen party.
Nicola shocked fans with her new inking with a post on Instagram calling Julia a “pain in the neck”.
One fan commented: “Tell me you didn’t do that for real I hope it’s a fake.”
Another added: “Had me going for a second there!”
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The Nicola Rubenstein star, 30, has resumed her role on Corrie after departing in June and will be back on the box six months after her character left for a new life in Bristol.
However, it is not clear how long Pat Phelan’s daughter will be sticking around for after a TV insider claimed the Blackpool-born performer will make guest appearances going forward, rather than being a regular member of the cast.
Addressing fans from The Bistro in a video shared with the soap’s 1.76million Twitter followers, Nicola revealed it was her first day back on the set.
“I’m so excited to be back,” she said.
“I’ve missed you all.”
Nicola continued: “It’s been a long time now since Phelan’s reign of terror, but I hope you’re all looking forward to what Nicola’s going to get up to in January when she’s back on screens.”
The soap character headed off down south with baby Zak – whose father is Gary Windass – and Eileen Grimshaw after her serial killer dad’s downfall.
However, by the end of the summer Eileen had come back to Manchester, leaving Nicola in Bristol to raise her son alone.
A source told the Daily Star Sunday: “Over Christmas we’ll learn Gary Windass has gone to visit Nicola in Bristol because baby Zak is poorly.
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“And then in the new year Nicola returns to Weatherfield to see Eileen.
“This doesn’t go down well with everyone – her return certainly ruffles a few feathers.”
Since leaving the soap, activist Nicola has continued her campaigning for women’s equality, memorably clashing with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain.
What do you think of Nicola’s new tattoo?