‘A final insult to Helen Worth,’ one person said. Coronation Street fans have been left outraged by ITV’s plans for Helen Worth’s final episode. The soap star, 73, has played matriarch Gail Platt on the ITV show since 1974 and her exit will follow what has been described as “a major storyline for the Platt family”.
![[Helen Worth as Gail Platt on ‘Coronation Street’]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/05/13/newFile.jpg)
In July, it was revealed that Sean Wilson would return as Gail’s ex-husband Martin Platt as part of the exit storyline, however the actor was suddenly axed after his return was announced. Although Worth’s Christmas Day exit was planned to premiere at 7pm on ITV, reports have now claimed the episode will be available to stream on ITVX on Christmas morning hours prior to the broadcast.
![[Worth was awarded an MBE for services to drama in 2023]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/23/20/23165755-d27021f1-a034-4940-b9be-f502c0d0f340.jpg)
Long-term Coronation Street fans have called the decision “an insult” to Helen Worth after the many years she has spent working on the programme. “Gail’s exit should have been a huge TV event after 50 years on the show. But instead they’re shoving it on to ITVX in the morning before it even airs on TV. No respect,” one person wrote on X/Twitter.
![[Worth has played Gail Platt on the ITV show since 1974]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/05/24/11/newFile-1.jpg)
“After she gave the majority of her acting career to the show it’s deplorable,” another person added. “I’m not even being dramatic when I say they should have done a week of episodes dedicated to her exit. It just makes no sense to me,” a third fan said.”.
