Coronation Street have unveiled an emotional look back at Helen Worth’s 50 years as Gail Platt on the ITV soap.
The video was originally compiled for the cast and crew, who gathered on the Viaduct Bistro set at the show’s production base in October to raise a glass to the legend.
Corrie have assured us that there wasn’t a dry eye in the house – so you best get those tissues at the ready before you click play!
In June, Helen rocked the continuing drama world when she announced her departure.
‘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’ she said.
‘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.’
The poignant video takes us on a trip down memory lane from her first scene in 1974 to the present day.
Joining the show as a feisty teenager, she quickly became one of the show’s most iconic characters, and has so far married five of the street’s men.
Firstly the lodger of the incomparable Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix), it wasn’t long before we met her estranged mum Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) and she had two children (and two marriages) with Brian Tilsley (Christopher Quinten).
Her second marriage was to the much younger Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), with whom she had son David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd).
Following the teenage pregnancy of daughter Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien), she married dodgy financial advisor Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), who turned out to be a serial killer that drove the entire family into a canal.
Brian is set to reprise his role this Christmas as Gail receives a visit from beyond the grave!
Years later, Gail took a shine to debt-ridden Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) and they married – though shortly afterwards he died whilst faking his own death.
After a short marriage to burglar Michael Rodwell (Les Dennis), she’s now set to be wed to yet another man this festive season. Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson) is the lucky fella, and the pair will leave for a new life in the south of France.
It’s fair to say that a celebratory video of Gail’s time in Weatherfield wouldn’t be right without each of her husbands getting a mention, alongside her feud with neighbour Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver).
The pair have squabbled again in recent weeks, given Jesse is Eileen’s ex-boyfriend!
Also included in the 8-minute spectacular is Gail’s emotional reflection on the death of Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward), which was hailed as one of the show’s most emotive scenes ever.
We still can’t believe she’s leaving – a definite end of an era!
