Actor Sean Wilson is returning to the Coronation Street cobbles as Martin Platt, six years after he last returned to Weatherfield, and his arrival is set to ruffle feathers for his estranged family

Coronation Street’s Sean Wilson is returning to the cobbles as Martin Platt.

The soap legend is back on the cobbles as Martin, six years after he last returned to Weatherfield. He begins filming today (Wednesday, July 24) and will appear on screen in October as part of Helen Worth’s exit storyline as Gail Platt.

David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), Martin’s son, is shocked to find his dad at the house and is immediately suspicious about his reason for coming back into their lives.

How will the rest of the family feel when Martin reveals why he has turned up out of the blue? Sean has picked up his first bumper pile of scripts as he prepares to start shooting.

He said: “It was great to be invited back to Coro St again, to contribute to Helen’s exit story. We’ll have a few months to catch up with Martin and Gail again, following the ebbs and flows of the unfolding storyline.”

“Playing Martin has been a joy since day one and in a way, I’ll be slipping back to where I left off, which no doubt will throw a spanner into the heart of the Platt family.

“It’s just like slipping on an old and comfortable jumper from the back of the wardrobe. I’m looking forward to reuniting with my TV family.”

Sean, who left the soap in 2005 to become a cheese-maker, played Martin for 20 years from 1985 to 2005. Martin and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 2018 and he paid one final visit to Weatherfield before his departure to make his peace with David, who was upset that his dad was leaving the country.

What has brought Martin back to the UK and what part will he play in Gail’s departure from the street? Despite their ten-year union ending when nurse Martin had an affair, he is considered the most successful of unlucky-in-love Gail’s six marriages.

Helen confirmed earlier this month she had signed her final contract and would leave the soap at the end of 2024. She said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world. The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”

Helen made her first appearance on the cobbles in 1974 as Gail Potter and carved out a role that would make her one of the most recognisable soap stars in Britain.