worth the wait
Helen Worth’s Coronation Street exit date revealed as soap icon quits as Gail Platt
One of Helen's co-stars was on live TV when the news broke and gave her reaction
HELEN Worth's Coronation Street exit date has been revealed after the soap icon quits her role as Gail Platt.
It was revealed earlier today that Helen, 73, had decided to leave the ITV soap after 50 years as Gail.
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Speaking about her departure, she 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.”
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Helen will film her Coronation Street exit next month and the emotional scenes will be on screen at the end of the year.
Executive Producer Iain Macleod added: “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.
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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.
Coronation Street star bids sad farewell to ITV soap after 15 years in emotional post to fans
“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.”
Meanwhile her Coronation Street co-star Sally Dynevor reacted to the news of Helen's departure during a live interview on Loose Women.
Sally, 61, said: "She really is a Corrie legend. Helen phoned me yesterday but I didn't think it was going to break until Friday.
"I'm gonna miss her so much. Helen was there before I was there and she was a guiding light. She's a wonderful actress."
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Helen Worth quits Corrie - My View
By Carl Greenwood, Soaps Editor
Actress Helen made her first appearance on the cobbles in 1973 as Gail Potter - and has lived most of her life on them and what a life it’s been.
Beloved by millions through the last half a century, Helen created one of the most iconic characters on British television.
Behind only Ken Barlow co-star Bill Roache, Helen has appeared in more episodes of a television series than anyone else.
She’s had more weddings - and surnames - than almost anyone else and buried multiple husbands - all but one ended up dead.
Three kids, four grandkids and a serial killer husband (and brother) - Gail has been at the forefront of Corrie for decades.
She’s been imprisoned, framed for murder, almost murdered multiple times, she’s survived serial killers, her own children and a concerning addiction to olives.
Not to mention countless street brawls with frenemy Eileen Grimshaw.
But through it all she’s remained a Corrie icon and her exit will leave a colossal hole on the cobbles - much bigger than the sinkhole that opened up in her back garden.
New Coronation Street boss Kate Brooks has her work cut out to give Helen and Gail the epic goodbye she deserves.
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.
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