Coronation Street: Soap star Helen Worth leaving Gail Platt role after 50 years
Soap star Helen Worth is set to make her final appearance on Coronation Street on Christmas Day, after more than 50 years.
Worth, 73, made her first appearance as Gail Platt on 29 July 1974 and has been at the heart of several major storylines over the years.
She said in June that her golden anniversary year “felt like the perfect time to leave the show”, having made the decision to quit at the start of the year.
“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,” she said when her exit was announced.
“The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
Helen Worth. Pic: PA
Her storylines have included her turbulent relationships with her children Nick (Ben Price), Sarah (Tina O’Brien) and David (Jack P Shepherd) and mother Audrey (Sue Nicholls).
Gail has had five husbands over the years, with her exit storyline focused on whether she will make it down the aisle with a sixth in the form of Jesse Chadwick (John Thompson).
In the Christmas Eve episode, her serial killer former husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) returned from the dead after more than 20 years.
In the dream sequence, Hillman urged Gail not to go ahead with her wedding.
Helen Worth (as Gail Platt) and Graham Haberfield (as Jerry Booth) pictured in an episode in 1975. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
The storyline planned initially for Gail’s exit, which would have seen Sean Wilson reprise his role as Martin Platt, had to be re-written after the 59-year-old unexpectedly left the show for “personal reasons”.
The actor later claimed he was axed by soap bosses after a historic assault allegation emerged, which he denies.
He was later told that after a police investigation, no further action would be taken.
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At the time of Worth’s announcement, Coronation Street executive producer Iain MacLeod said she is a “legend” and “icon”.
“Gail has given us countless hours of entertainment but it should also be said that Helen herself is a consummate professional and a thoroughly good egg,” he said.
“Everyone connected to the show will miss having her around the place just as much as the viewers will miss having her on their screens and we wish her all the very best for the future.”
Gail’s final appearance on Coronation Street airs at 7pm on ITV 1 on Christmas Day.
Entertainment
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Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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