Helen Worth’s final scenes as Gail Platt have been thrown into uncertainty after Sean Wilson – who played her ex-husband Martin – announced his departure from the soap.
Representatives for ITV confirmed on Saturday morning that the actor had left the show for “personal reasons”.
The 59-year-old last appeared on the cobbles six years ago and was set to reappear on screen in October as part of the departure of Worth, 73, as Gail after 50 years on the ITV soap.
An initial announcement said Wilson was to start filming scenes on July 24th, with a storyline featuring his on-screen son David (Jack P Shepherd) shocked to find his father at the house and immediately suspicious about his return to their lives.
It is not yet known what Worth’s replacement exit storyline will be.
When asked about a potential new replacement storyline, an ITV spokesperson said: “Sean Wilson has stepped down from filming for personal reasons.”
The broadcaster said it would not be commenting further on the situation, after previously saying Worth would leave following a “major storyline for the Platt family”.
Wilson previously said it was great to be invited to “contribute to Helen’s exit story”, describing his return to the character as “slipping on an old and comfortable jumper from the back of the wardrobe”.
He previously played Martin for 20 years from 1985 to 2005.
He last appeared in the soap in 2018 when Martin and his family emigrated to New Zealand and he paid one final visit to Weatherfield before his departure to make his peace with David, who was upset that his father was leaving the country.
