Why is Gail Platt leaving Coronation Street and when are Helen Worth’s final scenes?

Coronation Street fans will bid farewell to Gail Platt at some point this year, with Helen Worth leaving the ITV soap role.

But why is Gail leaving the show, and what led to Helen’s difficult decision to quit the show after 50 years? Gail has been at the centre of some huge storylines over the years, from having a serial killer husband to a serial killer brother, and being unlucky in love.

With the Platts being a huge iconic family on the soap for so long, it will certainly feel very different when Gail departs the show. Now, following a statement confirming the shocking departure, details have been revealed about when we will see the last of Gail.

Exact aspects of the storyline are being kept under wraps, but there are snippets of information that could hint at how she leaves and when. Here’s all you need to know…

Why is Gail leaving Corrie, and why did Helen Worth quit?

Gail’s specific reasons for departing Weatherfield or leaving the show have not been confirmed yet, and onscreen currently she has no desire to leave. Of course this is sparking fears the show legend will be killed off, as it’s been teased the storyline will be “major” and “emotional”.

As for actress Helen, she’s revealed what led to her decision to quit, with her speaking to bosses earlier this year. Helen 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. I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.

“I have been 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 past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”

When is Gail leaving Corrie?

No specific date or episode has been confirmed as Helen’s last as Gail, but we do know around what time she will leave the show. The statement revealed she would begin her final storyline in the coming weeks, but her last scenes will air much later on.

This suggests it’s a long-running storyline, while Corrie did reveal it will conclude with Gail’s exit at the end of this year, 2024. The statement read: “Helen will start filming her exit story next month and the emotional scenes will be on screen at the end of the year.”