CORONATION Street viewers have slammed the show, declaring a beloved cast member ‘deserves more’.
Fans of the ITV soap have addressed the impending exit of legendary star Helen Worth.
Sign up for the Corontation Street newsletter
Earlier this year, it was announced Helen will leave her iconic role as Gail Platt after five decades on the cobbles.
However, there have been significant changes to her final storyline, including a planned comeback for Gail’s ex-husband Martin Platt (Sean Wilson) being axed.
Taking to Reddit, a passionate viewer wrote: “For such a legendary character who has been continuously on our screens for 50 years, it’s a HUGE insult to Helen if they f**k up this exit storyline, which they probably will now which such a rushed/last minute change of plan.”
Another commented: “We know what Helen’s worth!”
Read more on Coronation Street
While a third person added: “The show deserves more.”
Commenting on her departure, Helen said in a statement: “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.
Most read in Soaps
“The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
With Martin’s planned return no longer the case, the soap’s writers have gone in a different direction.
Coronation Street’s Helen Worth’s 2024 episode count is revealed after Gail Platt actress quits soap
Cold Feet actor John Thomson has instead been brought in to reprise his role as Jesse Chadwick, who last appeared in 2010.
Jesse formerly dated Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver), but reports suggest he will have a romance storyline with Gail this time.
Coronation Street’s Executive Producer Iain MacLeod previously confirmed the character’s fate to the Daily Star’s Hot TV column.
He revealed: “Gail won’t die. It didn’t feel like killing her off would be right.
Gail’s biggest Corrie storylines
Over the years the character of Gail Platt has been the centre of several major plots.
Here we take a look back over actress Helen Worth’s biggest storylines:
Teenage daughter’s pregnancy
One of Gail’s most controversial storylines was in 1999.
It came when her 13-year-old daughter Sarah became pregnant.
Multiple marriages
Gail holds the record for the series’ most married female character.
She has been wed a whopping six times, each one worse the last.
Married to a serial killer
One of Gail’s multiple marriages saw her wed Richard Hillman, who turned out to be a serial killer.
At the climax of the storyline, 19 million fans tuned in to watch Hillman drive his wife and her family into a canal.
Scrapping on The Street
Gail has proved over the years she can’t resist a good scrap.
Her most memorable bust-up saw her attack Eileen Grimshaw on the cobbles in 2004 while in her dressing gown.
Jail bird
In 2010, Gail found herself wrongly banged up in jail.
She was wrongfully arrested for murdering her 4th husband Joe McIntyre.
“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.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“So, we thought what viewers really want is a happy ending for her, so that’s what we’re doing.”
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and is available to watch on ITVX.
