Coronation Street legend Helen Worth makes rare public appearance ahead of soap exit
CORONATION Street legend Helen Worth has made a rare public appearance to accept a prestigious television award.
The actress – who plays Gail Platt in the ITV soap – is set to bow out this Christmas in her final storyline after 50 years on the show.
She finished filming weeks ago and had a low profile leaving party on set.
And now she has made a rare public appearance at the North West Royal Television Society awards in Manchester last night.
She was honoured with the special judges award for her long career and contribution to television.
Accepting the award presented to her by on-screen son Jack P. Shepherd, she laughd: “I can’t believe he’s here.
“I said goodbye to him two weeks ago – and I thought I’d never see him again!”
Taking the award she told the audience: “To receive an award, in Manchester, in the north west, the home of Coronation Street, is an absolute joy.
“I’ve done 50 years, I don’t know how I did it!
“It just flew by and I never actually thought about it and then one day someone told me I’d been here 50 years and I thought ‘I think it’s time I left’ and that was it really.
“I know why I stayed – it was simple – because of all the wonderful people who work on Coronation Street.”
The actress’ final scenes will air on Christmas Day as Gail is set to walk down the aisle for the seventh time.
Viewers watched as old flame Jesse returned to Weatherfield to woo her after hearing of her troubles.
Gail proposed after suffering a heart attack and Jesse happily said yes – but it was also revealed that he’s keeping a secret from her.
A source told the People last month: “The wedding scenes are being filmed and when they air, viewers will be gripped.
Gail's biggest Corrie storylines
Over the years the character of Gail Platt has been the centre of several major plots.
Here we take a look back over actress Helen Worth’s biggest storylines:
Teenage daughter’s pregnancy
One of Gail’s most controversial storylines was in 1999.
It came when her 13-year-old daughter Sarah became pregnant.
Multiple marriages
Gail holds the record for the series’ most married female character.
She has been wed a whopping six times, each one worse the last.
Married to a serial killer
One of Gail’s multiple marriages saw her wed Richard Hillman, who turned out to be a serial killer.
At the climax of the storyline, 19 million fans tuned in to watch Hillman drive his wife and her family into a canal.
Scrapping on The Street
Gail has proved over the years she can’t resist a good scrap.
Her most memorable bust-up saw her attack Eileen Grimshaw on the cobbles in 2004 while in her dressing gown.
Jail bird
In 2010, Gail found herself wrongly banged up in jail.
She was wrongfully arrested for murdering her 4th husband Joe McIntyre.
“As with any soap wedding, they will have to wait and see whether Gail makes it down the aisle or not.
“With a character as popular as her, they will be hoping she finally gets a happy ending.”