Corrie viewers in disbelief over real-life age gap between Gail and Audrey

Coronation Street fans have got to know characters Gail Platt and Audrey Roberts pretty well over the past few decades, with actress Helen Worth joining the show as Gail in 1974, and Sue Nicholls joining as Audrey in 1979. However, fans are still discovering the actresses' surprising real ages, as Helen has announced she's quitting the show after 50 years!

On the show, Audrey Roberts and Gail Platt are mother and daughter, and the storyline sees Audrey having given birth to Gail at the age of 17-years-old. But the actresses' real-life age gap is quite far off what they play in the show!

What is the age gap between the actresses?

Sue Nicholls' birthday is 23rd November 1943, making the Audrey actress currently 80-years-old. While Helen Worth, who plays Gail, celebrates her birthday on 7th January, making her currently 73-years-old as she was born in 1951. This means that the mother-daughter-duo only have a seven-year age gap between them!

The news emerged in 2022 after one fan did some digging and revealed the surprising age gap in a Facebook Group. They wrote at the time: 'Just checked..., in real life Audrey is 78 and Gail is 71', and other viewers were quick to comment on the revelation.

One fan said: 'That's a surprise. I thought Gail was only in her early 60s'. Another added: 'Wow. I didn't realise Helen Worth was that age. She looks easy 10 years younger.'

Another person also commented: 'They both look great for their age!'

Sue has spoken out about her character, and how her on-screen family has treated her in the past. She explained: "She feels very much as though they have been treating her like a child and like someone who didn’t have the capacity to make her own decisions.

"She realised why she was so upset about it when she had the chat with Rita who is also very independent and she made it clear to her that they shouldn't be treating her in that way."

Are Audrey and Gail friends in real life?

The real-life actresses Helen Worth and Sue Nicholls are indeed pals outside of the jobs on the soap! Speaking to This Morning in March 2024, Sue - who plays Audrey - said: "I love her to death, I love doing scenes with her.

"When we fall out on screen we don’t fall out, it’s just a true family thing that happens in life but she's Gail’s not a good judge of men - mind you, I Audrey can talk!"

She added how much she loved working on the show: "Coronation Street is now my life. I find it easy to come here, I love the people I work with. I love what they give me to do, and I want it to go on."

Is Helen Worth leaving Corrie?

After 50 years on the soap, Helen announced in June 2024 that she'd made the difficult decision to leave her role as Gail.

Releasing a statement on 5th June, Helen said: "This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world. I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.

“I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew.

"The past 50 years have flown by and I don't think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet."

When is she leaving?

It's been confirmed that Helen will film her final storylines in July 2024, with the scenes set to air at the end of 2024.

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