Helen Worth’s final Coronation Street scenes as Gail Platt have been thrown into uncertainty amid Sean Wilson’s shock axe – as fans fear soap could now ‘KILL OFF’ the beloved character
Helen Worth’s final Coronation Street scenes have been thrown into uncertainly following Sean Wilson’s axe from the ITV soap.
The actor, 59, was set to reprise his role as Martin Platt in October as part of his ex-wife Gail’s exit, but according to sources, his entire story has now been ditched following his sudden departure.
As a result, Gail’s exit – which Helen announced in June after an incredible 50 years – is now in jeopardy, with it reported that her final scenes are now being frantically rewritten.
A representative for the soap stated that the actor left ‘for personal reasons,’ and none of Sean’s scenes will be aired.
Meanwhile, Coronation Street fans have been left fearful that Gail could now be ‘killed off’ now that Martin is no longer part of her departure plot.
According to The Sun, Sean’s exit came as a huge shock, with the cast unaware of the reason behind his departure.
A source said: ‘It has come as a complete and utter shock to everyone – and his sudden exit has rocked everyone involved with Corrie. Sean was loving his time on the show, and he was very popular on set.
‘He had filmed scenes with loads of the cast, but then suddenly he was summoned to head office, and later it filtered out he wouldn’t be returning or his scenes airing, but no explanation offered.
‘Clearly it’s a major blow for bosses who must now find a new magical and happy ending for Helen – but they are confident they’ll pull it out of the bag, and give viewers something wonderful.’
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Sean Wilson has stepped down from filming for personal reasons.’
Sean’s agent told the publication: ‘Neither he nor I will be making any further comment or statement.’
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, devout Corrie fans have expressed their worries that show bosses may now decided to kill off Gail in the wake of the sudden change to her planned exit storyline.
They penned: ‘Dear #Corrie producers…. whatever you do, DO NOT kill off gail platt. sincerely, the public’; ‘I fear they are going to now.’
‘What is going on at Corrie HQ!? Gail’s life is at risk I repeat Gail Platt’s life is at risk.’
‘I’m so scared for Gail, full-on panicking now’; ‘Gail best not be getting killed off.’
‘I need breaking news coverage on the bbc because how are we supposed to sleep after being told Gail’s exit is being rewritten!?’
‘I swear if Gail gets killed off’; ‘Gail’s being killed off isn’t she’.
‘Omg… sounds like maybe Helen has gone to the bosses and said that she doesn’t want to leave this way anymore and now this scares me she’s decided she wants Gail to be killed off instead. I’m actually scared.’
Meanwhile another person suggested that producers should recast Sean and draft in a different actor instead.
They shared: ‘Blimey! What is going on at Corrie HQ?! Items to watch it now & then (I.E. big storyline is coming up). They need to give Gail Platt (Helen) one heck of a send off after so many decades of the show. “Will be recast”??? They’re going to bring someone else in?’
Sean previously stated that it was great to have been asked back to ‘contribute to Helen’s exit story’, describing his return to the character of Martin as ‘slipping on an old and comfortable jumper from the back of the wardrobe’.
In June, Helen revealed she will leave the cobbles for good after 50 years, show bosses having planned to pulling at all the stops for her departure.
Sharing the news of her exit, 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.’
A source revealed to The Sun at the time that viewers should expect to see ‘many twists and turns’ but the scriptwriters want Gail’s story to end with a happy ending.
However, it remains to be seen what ending Gail will have after five decades in Weatherfield.
In her nearly 50-year stint on the soap, Gail has been married five times, including Brian Tilsey (Christopher Quinten), who was tragically stabbed to death, and Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), one of the soap’s long-serving characters.
Helen has been at the centre of an array of explosive storylines, including her daughter Sarah’s (Tina O’Brien) teenage pregnancy, and the death of her fourth debt-ridden husband Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) during a failed life insurance scheme.
One of Gail’s most iconic moments came when she featured in a two-hander episode with her husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) in 2003, after learning that he was a serial killer.
The famous episode, which featured a slew of one-liners, saw Richard confess he had killed several people on the cobbles, including Maxine Peacock.
It all culminated in a famous 2003 episode when Richard attempted to end his own life, and the Platts, by driving their car into a canal, and he sadly drowned while the rest of them were rescued.
