Coronation Street’s rites Carla Connor and Lisa Swain finally reunited on Friday night’s episode of the world’s longest-running soap, but several fans had the same complaint
21:00, 22 Jan 2026Updated 21:00, 22 Jan 2026
Lisa and Carla got back together on Friday’s episode of Coronation Street(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street favourites Carla Connor and Lisa Swain finally reunited on Friday night’s episode of the world’s longest-running soap. The factory boss, played by Alison King since 2006, struck up a relationship with police officer Lisa (Vicky Myers) in November 2024, and they got engaged last September.
But things were instantly marred for the pair when Lisa’s wife Becky, also a police officer, came back from the dead and revealed that her supposed death in the line of duty was all part of a corrupt cover-up. Throughout her short stay in Weatherfield, Becky (Amy Cudden), became hellbent on reuniting with Lisa and their teenage daughter Betsy, and tried to get Carla out of the picture by locking her up in a wardrobe and then a shipping container.
Carla was rescued by DC Kit Green, but it all culminated in a massive crash on a dark country road that aired as part of the soap’s crossover with Emmerdale. Becky was arrested and sent to prison, but Carla ultimately called time on their relationship after finding out Lisa had slept with her whilst she was being held hostage. Fans of the on/off couple, who have become a social media sensation known as Swarla, were wondering just when, how and if the two were ever going to get back together.
READ MORE: Coronation Street’s Carla Connor dealt series of ‘harsh truths’ amid Swarla breakupREAD MORE: Coronation Street 2026 spoilers revealed: Swarla wedding, time jump and murder shock
Carla gleefully announced to the factory lot in the Rovers that she and Lisa were an item again(Image: ITV/Coronation Street)
Earlier in the week, Lisa (Vicky Myers) got drunk and tried to profess her love for Carla, having written her a letter to explain how she felt. On Friday, Carla marched into number six with a bacon sandwich as a hangover cure for Lisa. Later on, Carla confirmed to Lisa that she loved her and they kissed before heading upstairs.
Despite planning to “take it slow,” Carla then backtracked, and when they called into the Rovers later on, she promptly announced to her Underworld employees that she and Lisa were back together again and ordered two bottles of champagne to celebrate.
Fans have been waiting for the reunion of Carla and Lisa, but some were left feeling cold as it all played out in a couple of “lacklustre” scenes, especially as not one word was said about the whole melodramatic ordeal that Carla had been put through at the hands of Lisa’s wife after coming back from the dead.
One fan wrote: “That was underwhelming. One of my favourite things about Swarla has always been the way they communicate with each other. To not even have a conversation about anything that’s happened is weird. Carla led the whole reunion with no emotion from Lisa whatsoever!”
But there was no mention of Lisa’s wife Becky, who came back from the dead, kidnapped Carla and caused a crash before being sent to prison(Image: )
Another said: “It was cute to see Carla happy again, but I also would’ve liked more focus on Lisa (like Carla expressing she understood Lisa was manipulated for 20 years) and Betsy (seeing Lauren’s joy at #Swarla reunion was cute, but I’m more invested in Betsy seeing her parents back together)”
A third wrote: “That reunion felt a bit lacklustre for me. It seemed like they missed a chance to dive deep into their feelings and how they’ve both handled things. With all the buildup, I expected more raw emotion or clarity, not just surface-level dialogue!” and a fourth raged: “I think it was really important they should’ve had a heart-to-heart first. Carla knows Lisa loves her but she also knows she slept with and was leaving with Becky. She could still think the only reason Lisa’s with her is because Becky’s no longer around.”
However, some fans were just happy to have their favourite soap couple back together, with one reasoning: “Some people r never satisfied,I’m happy they r back together, it was a bit rushed!
“There will be more scenes between them and they’re gonna talk about what happend. They”ll come out of it stonger!” Another said: “Even though there was a lot going on in today’s #corrie episode but #swarla getting back together was so brilliant!!!!”
Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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