Coronation Street legend Sean Wilson says unfounded sex claim ruined his ITV comeback
An unfounded historical sex claim ruined the comeback of Coronation Street star Sean Wilson, says the actor who once played Martin Platt.
Sean, 59, was filming with ex-soap wife Gail earlier this year before his long-awaited return was suddenly cut over a police investigation into an alleged indecent assault from 1997.
The actor was recently told by police that he would face no further action but he said the probe had a devastating impact on him and his career.
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Opening up to The Sun on Sunday, the father-of-two said: “My reputation was ruined in just eight minutes – my whole world blown apart. I had no idea who had made this complaint or anything about it but I lost my job. It’s been hell. I’ve been low all the way through.”
He was set to return to the cobbles after 19 years for a Christmas storyline involving Gail. According to the publication, he had signed a ten-episode contract. He said he “jumped at the chance” to go back to Corrie and that he wanted to be there for Helen Worth’s (Gail’s) final stint on the soap.
Sean felt like he was “rolling back the years” while filming in July but a chilling email on August 1 changed everything.
The email reportedly read: “I am writing to request a meeting with you at the Coronation Street studios.
“This is to discuss a historical allegation of a sexual nature which has been made about you in the past few days relating to when you were previously under contract to the programme. We will realise this will come out of the blue for you as it has for us.”
As for what the allegation involved, he said: “I was suddenly confronted with three executives who said they had received an allegation that I had put my hands up a woman’s skirt. They also said police had contacted them and told them they had referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
“I was in bewilderment. They said they had to cut the contract and protect their cast. I told them I knew it hadn’t happened and I deserved a chance to convince them. But they said once it had become a police matter they couldn’t do anything.”
Sean, whose character married Gail in 1991 before they had a son called David, left the soap in 2005. He described his behaviour as always being exemplary and after the shock allegation, he hired lawyers to fight his case.
Back in October, he gave a voluntary interview at Longsight police station before police confirmed no further action would be taken one month later.
But giving an insight into the toll it has taken on him, he said: “The past few months have taken their toll.
“When I got that call, that was the first time I cried in four months. I just let out all the pent-up emotions. What got me through it was knowing the truth. The entire time I felt submerged in water but I didn’t want to sink into depression.”
Sean, who is father to Callum, 26, and daughter Maisie, 24, said the unfounded allegation cost him his Corrie contract and that he also paid thousands on lawyers.
He had turned to cheesemaking after the show and in a warning to his peers, he concluded: “This whole entire thing has been unbelievable. No matter who you are, or where you work, you are just one call away from ruin.”
