Coronation Street star Helen Worth to leave after 50 years

Helen Worth, who has been a part of Coronation Street for 50 years, playing the role of Gail Rodwell (previously known as Gail Platt), has decided to depart from the popular ITV soap opera.

Worth, who will resign by the conclusion of this year following a significant storyline for the Platt family as described by ITV, initiated her involvement in the soap in 1974 and will mark her fiftieth anniversary next month.

The performer stated that this was the optimal moment to depart from the series following fifty years of outstanding work on the finest street globally. They made this choice at the commencement of the year and communicated with the production team who were very sympathetic and supportive.

Worth's character on the popular soap opera has had some of the most significant story arcs to date. Gail's character was subjected to violence when she was pushed down a flight of stairs after accompanying her son's girlfriend to a clinic to have an abortion. In another plotline, Gail was unlawfully arrested for murder following her husband's botched attempt to stage his own death. Gail was also there to support her 13-year-old daughter when she became pregnant, which caused an uproar among advocacy groups when it aired in 2000 due to concerns that it might potentially promote underage sexual behavior.

Gail got married to Richard Hillman who was a serial killer. This caused the Platt family to be abducted and forced into a canal. This was such an exciting ending that it attracted a huge audience in 2003 and even caused a power surge during the commercial break.

Back in 2014, Gail's portrayal by Worth was recognized by the British Soap Awards and she was granted the outstanding achievement award. Additionally, in the 2022 birthday honours, she was bestowed an MBE for her contributions to drama.

According to the executive producer, Iain MacLeod, the terms 'legend' and 'icon' are frequently used nowadays, but they accurately describe Gail and Helen Worth. Gail has played a significant role in Coronation Street for 50 years, thanks to Helen's portrayal of her character. Gail has been at the heart of many unforgettable storylines, oftentimes due to her unfortunate choices in spouses.

The world's longest-running soap opera has been going through a rough patch lately, and it was recently announced that one of its actors, Worth, is leaving. Fans and even some former cast members have expressed disappointment with the show's plotlines, which they feel lack creativity. Actress Maureen Lipman even went as far as to say that the show has become too focused on highlighting social problems of the 21st century, with storylines featuring murder in knicker factories and domestic abuse.

From April, Coronation Street has had a fresh producer named Kate Brooks, who used to work as a producer for Emmerdale. Worth stepping down is one of the first major updates since Brooks took over the position.

The 73-year-old Worth stated that he feels incredibly fortunate to have had access to amazing screenplay material every week and to have collaborated with talented actors, directors, and a remarkable team. He also shared that even though he has spent 50 years in the industry, it hasn't quite hit him yet that he is exiting.