Helen Worth had ‘fabulous 50 years’ as her character says goodbye to the cobbles
Soap star Helen Worth expressed her gratitude to fans for "joining me on this journey" as she bid farewell to her Coronation Street character, Gail Rodwell, after spending 50 years on the show.
Worth left the show in a touching episode on Christmas Day, where Gail finally found her happiness by marrying Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson) and bidding farewell to her loved ones.
Following a disturbing dream in which her deceased ex-husband and serial killer Richard Hillman attempted to prevent her from marrying Jesse, Gail realized that her deepest desire was to become Mrs. Chadwick and leave Weatherfield behind for a fresh start in France.
ITV reported that the emotions displayed by her on-screen family were genuine as she was taken away down the cobblestone street.
Gail Rodwell and Jesse Chadwick are departing from Coronation Street (ITV/PA).
In a video posted on social media, where the actress was seen relaxing in her family room on set, the 73-year-old greeted viewers with, “Hi, everyone! I’m really glad to take a moment to say, ‘goodbye!’”
"It's been an amazing 50 years, and I want to express my gratitude to each of you. Some of you might have been with us for the entire time—are there any of you out there? And for those who have joined us in more recent years, thank you as well."
"Thank you for joining me on this adventure. It's been an amazing experience, and I've enjoyed every moment of it."
"I've enjoyed sharing all these stories, especially collaborating with the amazing Platts, which is what truly matters to me. I'm looking forward to bringing you more stories about Platt, and I hope you'll keep tuning in!"
Sending you all my love and gratitude. Take care!
In the episode, Gail stood at the altar and promised to love Jesse "for the rest of my life."
"I felt like a tiny mouse, always living in the shadow of my glamorous mother and her stylish friends. Nobody thought I would achieve anything significant—just little Gail Potter, drifting through life," she reflected.
"I've experienced both good fortune and hardship, and now I'm fortunate once more."
It signifies the conclusion of fifty years of portraying the beloved character of Gail, who has frequently been in relationships.
Gail tied the knot with her first husband, Brian Tilsley, portrayed by Christopher Quinten, in 1979. They became parents for the first time when their son, Nick, was born in 1980.
Gail alongside Jesse Chadwick on the day of their wedding (ITV/PA)
However, their relationship began to deteriorate, leading Gail to divorce him after she had an affair with Brian's cousin, Ian Latimer.
They got married again after the birth of their daughter Sarah in 1987, but just a year later, Brian was fatally stabbed by a group of teenagers outside a nightclub.
After Brian passed away, Gail entered into a relationship with Martin Platt, played by Sean Wilson, who was a decade younger than her.
Gail Rodwell and Jesse Chadwick share a meal during their wedding while her son David delivers a speech (ITV/PA).
In 1990, they celebrated the arrival of their son David, and the next year, they tied the knot. Soon after, they settled into the well-known house number 8 along with their kids.
After ten years of being together, the marriage ended in 2000 when Martin admitted to cheating with Rebecca Hopkins. The couple finalized their divorce a year later.
In the summer, Worth's departure from the show became unclear when Wilson made a short return but then left again for personal reasons.
The actor, who had been a part of the soap for over twenty years, later stated that he was let go after an old assault accusation came to light—something he denies.
At the same time, Gail's following marriage was her most chaotic, as her husband Richard Hillman, portrayed by Brian Capron, was a fraudster and a serial killer.
Gail and Jesse on the day of their wedding (ITV/PA)
After admitting his wrongdoings to Gail, he tried to kill her and her kids by binding them in the family car and steering it into the canal.
The Platts were saved from the water, but unfortunately, Richard drowned, marking the end of his violent actions in 2003.
After taking some time to herself, Gail eventually began another relationship. However, she became involved in a hidden romance with Joe McIntyre, who is the father of Tina, that her son David was dating.
Their relationship came to light, and the two got married in 2010 after Joe, portrayed by Reece Dinsdale, sought assistance for his struggles with painkiller addiction.
Their relationship concluded in a shocking way when Joe attempted to stage his own death in order to collect life insurance money, but ultimately drowned while trying to pull it off.
The Platt family on Coronation Street bid goodbye to Helen Worth following her impressive fifty years on the show (ITV/PA).
Michael Rodwell, played by Les Dennis, was the fifth husband of Gail. Their initial encounter occurred when he tried to break into her home.
They got married in 2015, but later separated due to a disagreement regarding Michael's son.
Shortly after that, Michael passed away from a heart attack in 2016.
Since joining the show in July 1974, Worth's character has been central to many dramatic storylines that have captivated viewers over the years, with her troubled romantic relationships becoming a defining aspect of her persona.
In 2014, ITV recognized the actress's impressive 40-year tenure on the soap by producing a special documentary called Gail & Me.
After receiving an MBE for her contributions to drama in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022, Worth shared with the PA news agency: “It's truly remarkable to have a job I love and to be able to continue working in that field.”
"Receiving an award for it is just the perfect finishing touch."
