Corrie boss reveals major details of Gail Platt's exit storyline
Actress Helen Worth is leaving the soap after 50 years
After an incredible 50 years on the soap, legendary actress Helen Worth MBE, who plays the role of Gail Platt, announced she's leaving Coronation Street later this year.
Helen, who first joined the ITV/STV soap in July 1974, released a heartfelt statement at the beginning of June to confirm the shock news, admitting she's been 'truly blessed'.
Why is she leaving?
The 73-year-old said at the time: “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."
What is her exit storyline?
Unlike a lot of characters who leave the soap, it sounds like it's not going to be a tragic ending for Gail.
Coronation Street Executive Producer Iain Macleod recently spoke to the Daily Star, where he revealed: "Gail won’t die. It didn’t feel like killing her off would be right. Gail’s exit is a brilliant story, I thought what do viewers want to see?
"Gail has had a hard life. She had a difficult childhood and some disastrous marriages. So, we thought what viewers really want is a happy ending for her, so that’s what we’re doing."
It sounds like actress Helen is very happy with the story, with Iain adding: "Helen loves the storyline. Recently, she described it by saying, 'It’s the perfect ending for Gail', so I can sleep soundly at night.
"You don’t want to inflict an ending on someone after 50 years that they’re not happy with."
When will her last scenes air?
Bosses are so far keeping silent on an exact date, but they have revealed Gail's final scenes will air at the end of the year.
What have Corrie bosses said about Helen leaving the soap?
Speaking just moments after Helen announced she is set to leave the soap, Corrie's Executive Producer Iain MacLeod said of the news: "The words ‘legend’ and ‘icon’ get used a lot these days but they genuinely do apply to Gail and to Helen Worth. However, given her humility, I know Helen won’t thank me for saying so!
"In Helen’s hands, Gail has been a huge part of Coronation Street for five decades and at the centre of some of the most memorable storylines - often deriving from her catastrophically bad luck in choosing husbands!
“Her ill-fated marriage to Richard Hillman was one of the most ground-breaking stories in soap history and cemented Gail’s already established status as one of the Corrie greats. As the matriarch of the Platt clan, her affectionately prickly relationships with her kids and flighty mum Audrey epitomise what makes the show great: complicated family dynamics brought to life impeccably by Helen’s dramatic and comedic chops, alongside those of her fictional clan.
"Gail has given us countless hours of entertainment but it should also be said that Helen herself is a consummate professional and a thoroughly good egg. Everyone connected to the show will miss having her around the place just as much as the viewers will miss having her on their screens and we wish her all the very best for the future."
When did she first join the soap?
Helen joined the popular soap way back in 1974, taking on the role of Gail Platt, and she's since appeared in 4,453 episodes over the last 50 years.
In July Helen will celebrate her 50th anniversary on Coronation Street, before she begins filming for her exit storyline, with her 'emotional scenes' set to be on-screen at the end of the year.
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Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and STV1.
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