The shock departure from the ITV soap is set to leave ‘something in its wake’

The boss of Coronation Street has confirmed that viewers can expect ‘explosive drama’ for one of the soap’s main families in the aftermath of a sad exit. As fans of the ITV soap know, Gail Platt will soon be waving to goodbye to Weatherfield after five decades on the famous street.

Actress Helen Worth confirmed she would be leaving the show after 50 years last month, with the 73-year-old saying she had been “truly blessed” to have portrayed the character and that the time has “flown by” but felt that it was the “perfect time” to bow as the fan-favourite character.

Gail – and Helen – will be making her departure from the cobbles before the end of 2024, after having been a mainstay on the show since her 1974 debut. Now, show chiefs have now revealed Gail will be given a “happy ending” when she leaves Weatherfield.

According to the Daily Star’s Hot TV column, executive producer Iain MacLeod said: “Gail won’t die. It didn’t feel like killing her off would be right. Gail’s exit is a brilliant story. I thought, ‘What do the viewers want to see?’”

“Gail has had a hard life. She had a difficult childhood and she disastrous marriages. So, we though what viewers really want is a happy ending for her, so that what we’re doing.”

The soap boss said Helen – who is due to start filming her final scenes in the coming weeks – had given the exit storyline her seal of approval. He continued: “Helen loves the storyline.” Recently, she described it by saying, ‘It’s the perfect ending for Gail’, so I can sleep soundly at night. You don’t want to inflict an ending on someone after 50 years that they’re not happy with.”

But Iain has teased that the character’s departure from Weatherfield will send a major shockwave through her family, including daughter Sarah and son David, played by Tina O’Brien and Jack P Shepherd.

He explained: “Gail’s happy ending will be part of loads of other drama for the rest of the Platt family. It will be a catalyst for some explosive drama with betrayals and twists. Her departure will leave something in its wake.”

Last month, Tina who has played the role of Sarah since 1999, was among those to react to the news of Helen’s exit, saying in a comment on Corrie’s social media post: “Can’t put into words how much I love and adore Helen,” alongside a single tear-crying emoji and a love heart.

She later told Express.co.uk about her on-screen mum’s impending departure: “I’m really sad [about Helen leaving] but I’m really happy for her. It’s something that she is ready for and she wants so yeah actually, it’s good.”

Speaking about Gail’s final scenes, when asked if Tina knows if she will be in them with her on-screen mum, she replied: “I’m really hoping so, I’ll be absolutely devastated if I’m not!” She added: “It would be terrible. I know that she’s not leaving just yet. I’m not sure what the storyline is yet, as I haven’t been told, but I’m sure that that’s something they are working on at the minute.”