CORONATION Street fans are concerned as a soap legend has been missing from the cobbles for six months.
Helen Worth opted to quit the ITV programme earlier this year after 50 years in the role but her planned exit has gone seriously awry in the last few weeks.
Gail is expected to depart at the very end of the year but plans for a happy ending with her ex were derailed when actor Sean Wilson was axed from the show.
Soap bosses had planned to bring back her former husband Martin Platt with the star already having begun filming his return scenes on the soap.
Yet, The Sun revealed that the actor had been sensationally axed from the role with the reasons as to why now shrouded in mystery.
Whilst it seems that Gail may get a romance and have her happily ever after – the man in question which will be much closer to home.
Comedian and Cold Feet star John Thomson will be reprising his role as children’s entertainer Jesse Chadwick – the former partner of Gail’s sworn enemy Eileen.
John’s upcoming romantic storyline and scenes will air this October, as viewers bid farewell to Helen as Gail.
John first graced the cobbles as Jesse at a party where he encountered trouble performing and his wife, Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver), came to the rescue.
The actor has graced the soap as a biker named Gary.
In 2008, during an interview with GMTV, he reflected that since his character didn’t have a surname, there wouldn’t be a narrative future for him on the show.
Beyond his television work, John has also participated in The Masked Singer on ITV and boasts film roles in titles such as Inkheart (2008) and Grimsby (2016).
Bosses had to drum up the emergency tale after axing 59-year-old Sean’s character just two weeks ago.
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.”
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
Amid the casting drama, fans have noticed Gail has disappeared for half a year.
Even though Gail has been mentioned in some scenes when babysitting her grandchildren, Gail has not seen seen on-screen since March.
In the Spring, Gail found out her daughter Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) was cheating on her husband Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) with former criminal Damon Hay (Ciarán Griffiths).
She was shocked when she found out Sarah was pregnant with Damon’s baby, and supported her when she miscarried.
Gail is the owner of No. 8 Coronation Street where David, Shona, Max and Lily also live in.
Despite her current absence, soap bosses did promise the actress that her iconic character will get a happy ending.
But with Sean’s shock exit, will they follow through? Will John ride into the sunset with Gail?
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
