Helen Worth’s final scenes on Coronation Street have been thrown into disarray after Sean Wilson was axed from the ITV soap.
The 59-year-old actor was set to reprise his role as Martin Platt in October as part of his ex-wife Gail’s departure, but sources say his entire story has now been thrown in the trash following his sudden departure.
This has put Gail’s departure, which Helen announced in June after an incredible 50 years, in jeopardy, with her final scenes reportedly being feverishly rewritten.
A spokesperson for the soap said the actor left “for personal reasons” and that none of Sean’s scenes will be aired.
Meanwhile, Coronation Street fans fear Gail will be ‘killed off’ now that Martin is no longer part of her exit plan.
Helen Worth’s final Coronation Street scenes have been left in limbo after Sean Wilson was axed from the ITV soap [Helen pictured as Gail with co-star Les Dennis]
The actor was set to reprise his role as Martin Platt in October as part of his ex-wife Gail’s departure, but sources say his entire story has been thrown out the window following his sudden departure.
Sean had returned to Corrie in July to film his first scenes and had already recorded episodes with a host of the soap’s stars.
According to The sunSean’s departure came as a huge shock. The cast didn’t know why.
A source said: “It was a complete and utter shock to everyone – and his sudden departure has shocked everyone involved with Corrie. Sean loved his time on the show and was very popular on set.
‘He had filmed scenes with a lot of actors, but then he was suddenly called to the head office. Later it became clear that he would not return and that his scenes would not be broadcast, but he gave no explanation.
‘It’s clearly a huge setback for the bosses who now have to come up with a new, magical, happy ending for Helen. But they’re confident they can pull it off and give viewers something great.’
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Sean Wilson has stepped down from filming for personal reasons.’
Sean’s agent told the publication: “Neither he nor I will be making any further comment or statement.”
Corrie fans have taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice their concerns that show bosses have decided to kill off Gail following the sudden change to her planned exit storyline.
Gail’s departure – which Helen announced in June after an incredible 50 years – is now hanging in the balance, as reports suggest her final scenes are now being feverishly rewritten
Meanwhile, Coronation Street fans are fearing that Gail could now be ‘killed off’, with Martin no longer part of her exit plan (Gail is pictured in a hospital bed in 2008 after being pushed down the stairs by her son David).
It’s clearly a big blow for bosses who now have to come up with a new magical and happy ending for Helen, but they’re confident they can pull it off and give viewers something great’ (pictured 2019)
They wrote: ‘Dear #Corrie producers… whatever you do, DO NOT kill Gail Platt. Kind regards, the audience’; ‘I’m afraid they will now.’
‘What is happening at Corrie HQ!? Gail’s life is in danger. I repeat, Gail Platt’s life is in danger.’
“I’m so scared for Gail, I’m freaking out”; “Gail better not get killed.”
‘I need the latest news from the BBC because how are we going to sleep if we’re told Gail’s departure is being rewritten!?’
“I swear if Gail is murdered”; “Gail is murdered, it’s not her.”
‘Omg… it sounds like Helen may have gone to the bosses and said she doesn’t want to go out like this anymore and now this makes me scared that she’s decided she wants to have Gail killed. I’m really scared.’
Meanwhile, someone else suggested that the producers recast Sean and use a different actor.
They shared: ‘Blimey! What’s going on at Corrie HQ?! Stuff to watch now and then (IE big storyline coming up). They need to give Gail Platt (Helen) a huge send off after so many decades on the show. “Will she be recast”??? They’re going to bring someone else in?’
Speaking to X, formerly known as Twitter, devoted Corrie fans have expressed their concerns that the show’s bosses have decided to kill off Gail in the wake of the sudden change to her planned exit storyline.
Sean had previously said he was thrilled to be asked back to ‘contribute to Helen’s exit story’, describing his return to the role of Martin as ‘like pulling on an old, comfy jumper from the back of the wardrobe’.
In June, Helen announced that she was finally saying goodbye to the cobblestones after 50 years. The series’ bosses had done everything they could to make her leave.
Helen said of her departure: ‘This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show, after celebrating 50 years in the most beautiful job on the most beautiful street in the world.’
“I made the decision early this year and spoke to the producers, who were very kind and understanding.”
“I feel 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 last 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I’m leaving has fully sunk in yet.’
A source told The Sun at the time that viewers could expect “lots of twists and turns” but that the writers wanted Gail’s story to have a happy ending.
However, it remains to be seen what will happen to Gail after fifty years in Weatherfield.
The actor was due to reprise his role as Martin Platt in October as part of his ex-wife Gail’s departure, but has now left the soap, with bosses citing ‘personal reasons’
Sean had returned to Corrie in July to film his first scenes and had already recorded episodes with a host of the soap’s stars
It comes after the actress, who is celebrating her 50th anniversary on the ITV show, made the difficult decision to step down from her role as Gail Rodwell at the end of this year
During her almost 50 years on the soap, the character has had many iconic moments, including when she was nearly drowned by her murderous husband Richard Hillman
In the nearly 50 years that Gail has been on the soap, she has been married five times, including to Brian Tilsey (Christopher Quinten), who was tragically stabbed, and Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), one of the soap’s longest-serving characters.
Helen has been at the centre of a series of explosive storylines, including the teenage pregnancy of her daughter Sarah (Tina O’Brien) and the death of her fourth husband, Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale), who was left struggling with debts during a failed life insurance scheme.
One of Gail’s most iconic moments came in a 2003 episode with two cast members, alongside her husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), after discovering he was a serial killer.
In the famous episode, which featured a host of one-liners, Richard confessed to killing several people on the cobbles, including Maxine Peacock.
The climax was a famous incident in 2003, when Richard tried to end his own life and that of the Platts by driving their car into a canal. He drowned, but the rest of the family were saved.