Coronation Street legend Helen Worth announced her shock exit from the soap on Wednesday after 50 years as the cobbles favourite Gail Platt.
The actress revealed she will bid farewell to the cobbles in a dramatic new storyline, which will conclude at the end of the year.
Half a century after she first walked onto the cobbles, viewers will see Helen bid farewell to the street in a major storyline for her family.
It’s no surprise that during her five decades in Weatherfield, Helen has had no shortage of dramatic and emotional storylines, with scuffles and marriages littered throughout her time on the cobbles.
So, as Corrie fans count down to Gail’s final farewell in the coming months, MailOnline takes a look-back at some of her most iconic storylines…
Coronation Street legend Helen Worth announced her shock exit from the soap on Wednesday after 50 years as the cobbles favourite Gail Platt
1977 – Gail’s wild early years
Gail made her first appearance on the Corrie cobbles on 29 July 1974, and first moved into the street as a wild teen intent on causing trouble
Gail made her first appearance on the Corrie cobbles on 29 July 1974, and first moved into the street as a wild teen intent on causing trouble.
She arrived on the Street after learning that the man her mother was living with – Frank Peterson – isn’t her father as she thought, and formed a close friendship with Suzie Birchall.
Landing herself a job at Sylvia’s Separates, Gail found herself embroiled in a messy divorce by sleeping with a marriage man.
However, she eventually moved into Number 11 with Suzie Birchall and Elsie Tanner, and at the time the trio were considered one of the soap’s most popular groups.
1986 – Gail’s steamy affair
After finding love and matrimony by Brian Tilsley, Gail became lonely and started a steamy affair with his Australian cousin Ian Latimer, (pictured)
After finding love and matrimony by Brian Tilsley, Gail became lonely and started a steamy affair with his Australian cousin Ian Latimer.
While he saw their tryst as a quick fling, Gail pleaded with Ian to continue their affair, but he broke things off and returned to his home Down Under.
Gail was stunned to discover that she was pregnant, and was unsure of the baby’s feather, leading to her mother Audrey to make a furious call to an unknowing Ian on the other side of the world.
After giving birth to her daughter Sarah-Louise, it was confirmed that Ian was not her father, with Gail becoming embroiled in a huge custody battle with Brian, who after learning of her affair, furiously filed for divorce.
Gail and Brian went onto rekindle their romance and married several years later, after hitting yet another rocky patch, their relationship came to a tragic end.
In 1989, Brian was stabbed to death while looking for women at a nightclub, leaving fans of the soap devastated.
2000 – Gail’s daughter Sarah-Louise falls pregnant at just 13
In what was deemed a hugely controversial storyline at the time, Gail was stunned when it was revealed her teenage daughter was pregnant
In what was deemed a hugely controversial storyline at the time, Gail was stunned when it was revealed her teenage daughter was pregnant.
Gail had become suspicious of her daughter after she stopped eating, and took her to the doctor with the concern she had an eating disorder.
However, viewers were aghast when it was revealed that Sarah was five months pregnant, and her baby daughter Bethany was born four months later.
Despite coming under some criticism that the storyline would glamourise teenage pregnancy, the programme makers were praised by the government for its handling of the subject.
Defending the storyline, a spokesperson for the soap said at the time: ‘It is a fact that Britain has Europe’s highest teenage pregnancy figures and Coronation Street is reflecting that and telling the story of one young girl.’
2003 – Gail marries a serial killer
In 2003, Gail was stunned to discover her husband Richard Hillman was a serial killer, and nearly met her maker when he drove their family car into the canal
Businessman Richard Hillman has become one of Corrie’s most iconic villains, and he was one of six men who Gail has married during her half-century on the soap.
When wife Gail discovered the truth, he kidnapped her and her children by tying them in the car, maniacally driving them towards the canal.
Screaming the famous line: ‘This is it! I love you!’ he plunged the car into the water, leaving teen Sarah to desperately try and free her daughter and brother David.
While the Platt family were able to escape, it was the end of the road for Richard who plunged to the bottom of the canal after taking his final breath.
2004 – Gail’s iconic cobbles clash
Throughout her time on Corrie, Gail and Eileen were embroiled in a decades-long feud which came to head when Sarah was dumped by boyfriend Todd Grimshaw
Throughout her time on Corrie, Gail and Eileen were embroiled in a decades-long feud which came to head when it was revealed that Sarah had fallen pregnant during a fling with Todd Grimshaw.
Despite planning a future with him and getting engaged, Todd reveals to Sarah that he is gay, and she and Bethany move back in with her mum.
Clad in little more than their dressing gowns, Gal and Eileen came to blows in the middle of the Street, becoming embroiled in a huge catfight for all to see.
It’s a feud that has continued for many years since, with the pair’s cutting spars across the Rovers Return leaving viewers in hysterics.
2010 – Gail is thrown behind bars for her husband’s murder
Gail was nearly imprisoned for murdering her husband Joe Thompson in 2010 after he accidentally drowned while attempting to take his death
In 2009, Gail tied the knot with Joe McIntyre, but remained unaware that he was drowning in thousands of pounds of debt, and plotted to fake his death and claim a huge life insurance payout.
Abandoning Gail on the shore, Joe sailed his boat into the middle of the lake, but accidentally drowned.
When police investigated Joe’s death, Gail was accused of murdering her husband, as a couple had previously spotted the pair in the middle of an argument.
Gail fears the worst, especially when former neighbour Tracy Barlow makes a false testimony against her claiming that Gail admitted in their prison cell to killing Joe with a rolling pin, but is relieved when she is found not guilty.
2018 – Gail’s emotional speech leaves viewers in tears
After Aidan Connor’s tragic suicide in 2018, Gail delivered an unexpectedly heart-wrenching speech about the fragility of life
After Aidan Connor’s tragic suicide in 2018, Gail delivered an unexpectedly heart-wrenching speech about the fragility of life.
Viewers of the ITV soap rushed to social media to praise Helen’s performance as she delivered a stunning monologue overlaid with scenes of Weatherfield residents hearing the news of Aidan’s death.
In an emotional episode Aidan’s body was discovered by his father Johnny (Richard Hawley) after he took his own life off-screen, and as the news spread residents of Weatherfield were left stunned by the shock death.
Meanwhile David Platt (played by Jack P Shepherd) was heading to court for his plea hearing after being charged with assaulting Gary Windass (Mikey North) at the charity boxing match, but did a runner from lawyer Imran’s (Charlie De Melo) car.
As Gail and the Platts feared for David’s wellbeing, the long-serving matriarch delivered a moving speech that showed both immense sympathy to the Connor family and worry for her own son.
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