As the legendary Gail Platt , Helen Worth has been through six surnames, two murder attempts, one wrongful imprisonment, untold catfights, and 4,454 episodes across 50 years. It’s rather impressive for a role that was only meant to last six weeks. With news Helen’s quitting at the end of the year , we celebrate her highs and lows in front of and behind the camera.
As Coronation Street ’s most married female, there are many, many sides to our favourite Gail...
Teen rebel Gail was first on screen in July 1974, as a minor sidekick friend of Tricia Hopkins. But Tricia left and Gail stayed, becoming friends with feisty Suzie Birchall as they lodged together at Elsie Tanner’s pad. The trio soon became one of the soap’s most popular households.
Helen was 23 and had already starred in Z-Cars when she was hired to play the then 16-year-old Gail. Helen later said: “I initially joined for six weeks, but it’s so easy to stay here.” Queen of the catfight Don’t be fooled by her mild-mannered demeanour, Gail can’t resist a good scrap.
Her most memorable fight was with Eileen Grimshaw ( Sue Cleaver ) on the cobbles in 2004 while clad in her dressing gown. Helen donned knee pads, back pads and elbow pads to film the scenes. Sue said: “I was lying in the road.
Helen was sat on top of me in her dressing gown. We said, ‘This is the most ridiculous way to pay the mortgage!’” Their 2015 hair salon fight involved shampoo bottles. And Gail once threw a cream pie in Deirdr.
