Nikki Sanderson drops big hint at a Coronation Street comeback – as she quits Hollyoaks after 12 years

NIKKI Sanderson has hinted she could make a spectacular comeback to Coronation Street after leaving Hollyoaks.

The brunette star has said her decision to leave Hollyoaks was an “incredibly difficult one”, but she’s refusing to rule out another stint on the Weatherfield cobbles in the future.

Nikki has played Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks for 12 years, and previously starred as hairdresser Candice Stowe on Coronation Street from 1999 to 2005

The 40-year-old told OK!: “Deciding to leave was an incredibly difficult decision for me because Maxine is a huge, huge part of my life – and a part of my life that I’ve loved.

“It’s difficult to think, ‘It’s time’, and it wasn’t an instant or overnight decision, it took me a long time to make it and it was something I genuinely fought with myself about, but I’m lucky that I could talk to people around me and get people’s opinions.”

And on a potential return to Corrie, she adds: “I love Candice and I love Coronation Street, so I’d never close myself to anything if they did want me back in the future, that’s the exciting thing about doing what I do. You just never know what might happen next.”

But whatever the future does hold, Nikki says she grateful to have the support of boyfriend, fellow Hollyoaks alum, Anthony Quinlan, 40, who played Gilly Roach on the show from 2005 to 2011.

Nikki remains coy when it comes to discussing partner of three-and-a-half years, but she does admit she’s never been happier – and won’t rule out marriage and children with him.

She says: “I don’t like to talk too much about my personal life, but I will say I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, Anthony is incredible.

“I’m in a wonderful, happy relationship, so let’s see what the future holds! Anthony really is my rock, he’s been incredibly supportive of me in my tough decision to leave Hollyoaks.”

Reflecting on her career since starting out as a child star, Nikki adds: “Who knew way back when as a little girl going to drama classes at The Carol Godby Theatre Workshop I’d spend the next 30 years working because of them?

“I’m under no illusion that it’s much tougher than it used to be out there, but I’m positive and have faith that I’ll achieve all I dream of in life, especially having Anthony, my family, and my friends by my side.”

Although Nikki does worry about auditioning for roles in an industry that is now far more digitally dependent.

She explains: “Now you have show reels and self tapes, but I never had to do that as you were just in a room with a casting director.

“It’s all about the digital CV, whereas before you had the Spotlight catalogue which was like a Yellow Pages for actors!”

“I’m excited about learning about this new world but I also have fear because I’m under no illusions of how the industry works, and there’s always the potential that you’ll never work again.

“But I want to be as positive as possible and see myself in these really incredible productions out there, and I’ll do everything in my power to be able to do that.”