A CORONATION Street star swore he ‘wouldn’t return’ to the ITV soap before his shock comeback after Sean Wilson’s axing.
On Sunday, The Sun exclusively revealed how Corrie bosses had decided to bring comedian John Thomson back to Weatherfield to replace axed Sean Wilson’s character Martin Platt.
Cold Feet and Fast Show star John, 55, will have a romance plotline with Martin’s ex-wife Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, 73, who is leaving the ITV soap.
Bosses had to drum up the emergency tale after axing 59-year-old Sean’s character just two weeks ago — as revealed on Saturday by The Sun.
John first appeared in Coronation Street as a biker in 1990 and returned in 2008 as Jesse Chadwick until 2010.
But following his departure, John admitted he didn’t see him returning to the Cobbles.
He told Metro: “I’ve been fortunate. I’ve had a varied career and like popping in and out of things. I was in it for ten months and felt I’d run my course.”
He continued: “I don’t want to be known as Jesse Chadwick, children’s entertainer, for the rest of my life. My time in there was probably about right.”
A source said of John’s return: “It’s been an absolutely frantic, incredibly stressful past couple of weeks for Corrie bosses and scriptwriters.
“So many new departure storylines for Gail were mooted but they were set on a love interest one – which proved tricky as she buried five of her six ex-husbands. And the remaining living one, Martin, was obviously axed in real life.
“They wanted a recognisable name and plumped for John as his character was popular with viewers and a real blast from the past.”
Cast and crew were baffled by Sean’s leaving.
A spokeswoman said he “stepped down for personal reasons”.
His return gives Gail the chance of a last laugh over sworn enemy Eileen Grimshaw — who Jesse dated — before she leaves later this year.
The source said: “Obviously his character, Jesse, had a doomed fling with Eileen, so they thought having him come back onto the cobbles and flirt with Eileen’s frenemy would be both funny and a fantastic final fling.
“Of course it would also leave the door open for Gail’s return one day should she ever fancy a special cameo.”
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.
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.
