Coronation Street: Gail star Helen Worth quits ITV soap after 50 years

Coronation Avenue star Helen Price has stop the cleaning soap after 50 years.

Price has performed Gail Platt on the ITV present since 1974 and her exit will observe what has been described as “a significant storyline for the Platt household”. The scenes might be filmed subsequent month.

Talking about her departure, Price stated: “This 12 months felt like the proper time to go away the present after celebrating 50 years in probably the most great job on probably the most great avenue on the earth. I made the choice initially of the 12 months and spoke to the producers who have been very sort and understanding.

“I’ve been really blessed to have been given probably the most unimaginable scripts week in week out, and to have labored with unbelievable actors, administrators and a superb crew.”

The Corrie star, who performs one of many longest-running characters to ever air on TV, was attributable to rejoice her golden anniversary subsequent month after over 5 many years on the programme.

On Tuesday (4 June) it was revealed that she was near overtaking veteran Invoice Roache’s file as Ken Barlow for variety of appearances. Gail has appeared a complete of 4,453 occasions since she first joined the present in July 1974, whereas Roache, 92, has made a complete of 4,773 appearances as Ken since Coronation Avenue’s very first episode first aired on 9 December 1960.

Price’s character Gail holds different data together with being the collection’ most married-female, having wed six occasions, one behind Steve McDonald (performed by Simon Gregson). She made her mark in probably the most controversial tales of the day when her 13-year-old daughter Sarah (performed by Tina O’Brien) grew to become pregnant in 1999.

Different narrative arcs embrace her proximity to various murders, together with marrying serial killer Richard Hillman (performed by Brian Capron), being imprisoned for the homicide of her husband Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale), and locking her son David Platt within the cellar of a Bistro after she discovers he’s going to kill his late spouse Kylie’s assassin.

Her many avenue brawls with frenemy Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) may even gone down in cleaning soap historical past.

Final 12 months, Price was awarded an MBE for companies to drama. Receiving the honour from Prince William, the actor stated: “It simply feels completely great. To gather an MBE could be very particular.”

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Followers reacted to the information of the star quitting the present as they turned to X/Twitter and referred to as it the “finish of an period”.

Corrie co-star Sally Dynevor who performs Sally Webster, was midway by way of an interview on Free Ladies when the information broke.

The 61-year-old paid tribute to the star as she stated, “She actually is a Corrie legend. Helen phoned me yesterday however I didn’t assume it was going to interrupt till Friday. I’m gonna miss her a lot. Helen was there earlier than I used to be there and he or she was a guiding mild. She’s an exquisite actress.”

Government Producer Iain Macleod stated: “The phrases ‘legend’ and ‘icon’ get used loads as of late however they genuinely do apply to Gail and to Helen Price. Nevertheless, given her humility, I do know Helen gained’t thank me for saying so! In Helen’s arms, Gail has been an enormous a part of Coronation Avenue for 5 many years and on the centre of a number of the most memorable storylines – typically deriving from her catastrophically unhealthy luck in selecting husbands!

“Her ill-fated marriage to Richard Hillman was probably the most ground-breaking tales in cleaning soap historical past and cemented Gail’s already established standing as one of many Corrie greats. Because the matriarch of the Platt clan, her affectionately prickly relationships along with her children and flighty mum Audrey epitomise what makes the present nice: sophisticated household dynamics delivered to life impeccably by Helen’s dramatic and comedic chops, alongside these of her fictional clan.

“Gail has given us numerous hours of leisure nevertheless it must also be stated that Helen herself is a consummate skilled and a completely good egg. Everybody related to the present will miss having her across the place simply as a lot because the viewers will miss having her on their screens and we want her all the perfect for the long run.”

Coronation Avenue airs on ITV1 and is on the market to look at on ITVX.