In a move set to delight soap fans, Gail Platt is making a sensational return to Coronation Street for this year's Christmas Day special. The comeback comes just one year after the character's high-profile departure from the long-running ITV drama.
A Festive Comeback for the Platt Matriarch
Helen Worth, 74, who has portrayed Gail for five decades, will reprise her role for a one-off appearance during the festive episode. According to reports, the scenes have already been filmed, with show bosses keeping specific plot details tightly under wraps.
A source revealed to The Sun: 'Corrie bosses are keeping the exact details under wraps but it's understood she takes the chance on Christmas Day to connect with the family.' The insider added that Gail's return appears particularly timely as the Platt family finds themselves embroiled in fresh drama, having navigated challenges without their matriarch since she moved abroad.
From Dramatic Exit to Emotional Return
Gail Platt, who now uses the surname Chadwick, bid an emotional farewell to Weatherfield in last year's Christmas episodes. Her final storyline saw her embark on 'day one of her new life' with husband Jesse Chadwick, played by John Thompson, as they left for a new beginning overseas.
Following her dramatic exit, Helen Worth shared a heartfelt video message with fans on X (formerly Twitter), thanking them for their support throughout her 50-year tenure on the show. Dressed in a blue blazer and red turtleneck, seated in Gail's iconic living room, the actress expressed her gratitude to viewers who had followed her journey.
Helen's final Christmas episode encapsulated her dramatic five-decade run, featuring an engagement, a pregnancy, an arrest, multiple fights, and plenty of tears - proving that even in departure, the Platt family never does things quietly.
Five Decades of Iconic Storylines
During her remarkable half-century on the cobbles, Helen Worth's Gail Platt became one of British television's most enduring characters. Her journey included five marriages, with husbands including Brian Tilsey (Christopher Quinten), who was tragically stabbed to death, and Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), one of the soap's longest-serving characters.
Gail found herself at the centre of numerous explosive storylines, including her daughter Sarah's teenage pregnancy and the death of her fourth husband, debt-ridden Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale), during a failed life insurance scheme.
One of her most memorable moments came in 2003 when she discovered her husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) was a serial killer - a storyline that became one of Coronation Street's most iconic plot twists.
While ITV has been contacted for comment by Daily Mail regarding her return, fans can certainly anticipate that Gail's Christmas Day appearance will bring the same compelling drama that has defined her character for generations.
