This Coronation Street legend dismisses crisis rumours as ‘nonsense’

Helen Worth, aka Gail Platt, says her departing co-star Lucy Fallon (Bethany) 'has to go and see what’s out there'

Coronation Street star Helen Worth has hit back at reports that the soap is in crisis following revelations that a number of the cast are leaving.

The 68-year-old soap legend, who first played Gail Platt way back in 1974, is unfazed by a number of her co-stars, including Lucy Fallon who plays her screen granddaughter Bethany, revealing that they’re quitting.

Talking to The Mirror, Helen said: “Rumours of a crisis are absolute nonsense. This happens all the time, it’s the natural way of Coronation Street.

“I’ve seen a few come and go but I’m still hanging in there.”

Coronation Street star Helen Worth looking glam at the Baftas

Helen Worth, who attended the Bafta television awards at the weekend, has hit back at the crisis rumours (pic: Anthony Harvey/BAFTA/REX/Shutterstock)

She certainly is hanging in there and this summer she’ll reach another milestone on the ITV hit.

“In July I will have been on the street for 45 years. We are moving along. Am I staying for 50 years? I’ve no idea, we will see.”

Helen went on to praise “very talented actress” Lucy Fallon and, supporting her decision to explore new roles, said: “She has to go and see what’s out there. Of course I’d love her to come back, but in actual fact, I would rather she was working so much that she didn’t need to come back."

Bethany Platt (played by Lucy Fallon) in Coronation Street

Lucy Fallon has been a big hit as Bethany. But she's one of a number of stars who've revealed they're leaving Coronation Street

As well as Lucy, Faye Brookes (Kate Connor), Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor), and Tristan Gemmill (Robert Preston) have all revealed they’re leaving the cobbles.

But Katie McGlynn, who was also rumoured to be departing, has tweeted that she hasn’t quit her role as Sinead Tinker. She added that she “fully committed to our long running storyline, we do not know the outcome as of yet, which is how we like it!”

Coronation Street continues on ITV.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.


Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 


David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.


Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!