Coronation Street is officially the longest running TV soap in the world – despite the fact that it was only supposed to air for 13 weeks.
So it’s no wonder that the ITV drama boasts seven of the ten longest-serving British soap stars – including Helen Worth, who announced on Wednesday she would be leaving the show after playing Gail Platt for 50 years.
Half a century after she first walked onto the cobbles, viewers will reportedly see Helen, 73, bid farewell to the street in a major storyline for the her family.
She’s one of the top three longest-serving soap stars, after William Roache, 92, who debuted on Corrie as Ken Barlow in the very first episode, and the street’s Rita Tanner, who’s been played by Barbara Knox continuously since 1972.
Here, FEMAIL reveals the ten longest-serving British soap stars…
WILLIAM ROACHE (KEN BARLOW): 54 YEARS
Bill Roache has played Ken Barlow on the ITV soap since it debuted back in 1960 (pictured left). Pictured right, Bill playing the character Ken in March 2024
Bill Roache has played Ken Barlow on the ITV soap since it debuted back in 1960 when he was paid just £70 a week. He is now the highest paid member of the cast, earning around £250,000 a year.
He holds the world record for the longest-serving TV actor in a continuous role and is even listed in the Guinness World Records.
The Nottingham-born actor previously revealed he aimed to still be on the programme at 100 years old.
He told The Mirror: ‘Someone said to me, “Look, Bill, you’re in the Guinness Book of Records, you’ve got the MBE, you’ve been in Coronation Street for over 60 years, what else is there?”
‘I said to him, “I would like to be the first centenarian who is still cast in an ongoing drama”. That’s my aim, to be 100 and still working on Coronation Street. While they want me and while I can do it I’ll continue to do it.’
Bill has also said: ‘People will say when are you retiring? Are you going to take a break? But then what happens?
‘Whilst I can do it, and whilst they will have me, I have no intention of retiring. I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me.’
In December 2022, Bill was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his services to acting following more than 60 years on Corrie.
Bill, who was previously awarded an MBE, revealed the hilarious reaction of King Charles, who playfully asked: ‘Not still working are you?’
In May 2022, Bill revealed he nearly quit the soap to pursue his dream of appearing in Westerns alongside the likes of Clint Eastwood.
He admitted he first dreamed of staring in films when he launched his career as an actor, telling the Sunday People: ‘When I started out I wanted to be in films, particularly I wanted to be in Westerns.
‘There was a time in the middle of my career, when I was in my 40s, I thought if ever I’m going to get out and do something else, now is the time.
‘But I only thought about it. I never actually did it. I realised I’m really proud of Coronation Street, lucky to be in it.’
BARBARA KNOX (RITA TANNER): 42 YEARS
Coronation Street star Barbara Knox has played Rita Tanner (pictured right, in February 2022) continuously since 1972 following an initial appearance in 1964 (pictured left)
Barbara turned 90 on September 30 but the actress (pictured in 1964 on the show) isn’t ready for retirement yet after she signed her contract to continue her role into 2024
Coronation Street star Barbara Knox has played Rita Tanner continuously since 1972 following an initial appearance in 1964.
She turned 90 on September 30 but the actress isn’t ready for retirement yet after she signed her contract to continue her role into 2024.
Barbara is now the second oldest Corrie cast member to Ken Barlow actor Bill Roache, who is 92.
It is thought the British actress commands a healthy £200,000 per year for her role as Rita.
An insider told The Sun in 2023 after she had reportedly renewed her contact: ‘Barbara is in Corrie’s DNA. She is a true pro and the executives were delighted that she put pen to paper to ensure she’s on screens into next year.
‘Corrie is a lovely, steady place to work with a supportive team so it makes it easy to fit around family, having kids and as the cast have grown older.
‘It was a no-brainer for Barbara to sign on the dotted line when the regular renewal of contracts came around this year.’
Barbara heself previously told The Mirror why she wouldn’t consider retiring, saying the job keeps her young.
The mother-of-three was once given 11 weeks off after a producer wrote her out of the soap, but says she found the time off extremely boring and mundane.
‘It’s so good for you – it certainly is for me,’ she said. ‘I know it’s hard and you’re tired and you don’t want to go in, but your brain is in action. And I do think the sheer discipline of work helps to keep you younger.’
HELEN WORTH (GAIL PLATT): 50 YEARS
Helen Worth announced on Wednesday she would be leaving Coronation Street after playing Gail Platt for 50 years. Pictured left, in her earlier years of playing the character
Helen Worth announced on Wednesday she would be leaving Coronation Street after playing Gail Platt for 50 years.
Half a century after she first walked onto the cobbles, viewers will see Helen bid farewell to the street in a major storyline for the her family.
It’s thought her son Nick Tilsley (Ben Price), daughter Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien), son David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), granddaughter Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) and mother Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) will all be involved.
In her nearly 50-year stint on the soap, she has been married five times, including to Brian Tilsey (Christopher Quinten), who was tragically stabbed to death, and Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), one of the soap’s long-serving characters.
Helen has been at the centre of an array of explosive storylines, including her daughter Sarah’s teenage pregnancy, and the death of her fourth debt-ridden husband Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) during a failed life insurance scheme.
One of Gail’s most famous moments came in a 2003 episode when she found out her husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) was a serial killer.
Helen will start filming her exit story next month and the emotional scenes will be on screen at the end of the year.
Helen said in a statement on Wednesday: ‘This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.
‘I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.
‘I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew.
‘The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.’
SUE NICHOLLS (AUDREY ROBERTS): 35 YEARS
Sue Nicholls joined the cast of Corrie in 1979, when Audrey Roberts made an unexpected arrival in Weatherfield after hearing of daughter Gail’s engagement. Pictured left, in 1985, and right, in December 2023
Following several recurring stints, the West Midlands-born actress, now 80, began appearing full time from 1985. Pictured, Audrey Roberts, as played by Sue Nicholls, and Gail Rodwell, as played by Helen Worth, in August 2023
Sue Nicholls joined the cast of Corrie in 1979, when Audrey Roberts made an unexpected arrival in Weatherfield after hearing of daughter Gail’s engagement.
Following several recurring stints, the West Midlands-born actress, now 80, began appearing full time from 1985.
A majority of her early years of the soap revolved around Audrey’s marriage to Alf Roberts (Bryan Mosley), who died of a heart attack on New Year’s Eve 1998.
In the later years – after opening her own hair salon – Audrey struck up a romance with the charming Lewis Archer (played by Nigel Havers), but the schemer eventually conned Gail out of their savings, before fleeing Weatherfield.
Audrey was also close friends with Alma Haliwell (Amanda Barrie), and in tear-jerking scenes sat at her side when the supermarket manager passed away from cervical cancer in 2001.
More recently, Audrey’s dramatic storylines have included being drugged by her murderous son Stephen Reid and shocking her loved ones with her suicide attempt confession.
In 2019, she revealed she was secretly written out of the ITV soap for a short period after she broke her collarbone in a nasty fall in the dark at home.
The accident occurred shortly after she scooped the Outstanding Achievement award at the British Soap Awards.
But despite the set-back, the much-loved actress declared that she had no plans to retire and would continue playing Audrey for as long as she’s welcome.
She told The Mirror: ‘If they’ll have me, I’d love to be here in 10 years’ time because I like playing her. There’s lots to achieve yet, so if I get the sack I’ll lock myself in Audrey’s salon and refuse to leave.’
The thespian went on to say that she didn’t want to ‘just sit at home’ and if soap bosses got ‘rid’ of her, she would retrain her voice and head back into singing, adding: ‘I wouldn’t retire.’
MICHAEL LE VELL (KEVIN WEBSTER): 31 YEARS
Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell has starred on the soap since 1983, playing mechanic Kevin Webster. Pictured in 1984, left, and right, in June 2024
Kevin has mostly been known for his 24-year marriage to Sally (pictured right), which fell apart in 2010 after he confessed to having an affair with married Molly Dobbs
Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell has starred on the soap since 1983, playing mechanic Kevin Webster and is said to earn £250,000 a year.
Kevin has mostly been known for his 24-year marriage to Sally, which fell apart in 2010 after he confessed to having an affair with married Molly Dobbs.
Despite their divorce Kevin and Sally have remained friendly, and Michael told The Sun on Sunday in 2020 that he believes their partnership is one of the most enduring in soap history.
Kevin and Tyrone Dobbs on-screen friendship – which endured despite the bombshell affair revelations – remains a standout for Michael as he said he and co-star Alan Halsall still strive to make each other laugh on set.
However, his time on the show has not all been plain sailing.
Michael was suspended from the show in March 2014, following accusations that he had been using cocaine and was asked to seek help for an alcohol problem.
He reportedly checked into The Priory to address his issues with alcohol after a final warning from TV executives and returned to the show in August the same year after five months away.
The suspension came as a second blow to the actor, who took a break in late 2013 pending the outcome of his rape trial. He was ultimately found not guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a girl from the age of six.
The jury in the Coronation Street star’s trial took less than five hours to clear him of the child abuse charges he said left him ‘fighting for my life’.
During the trial the star was forced to admit he sank up to 12 pints a night, had a string of one-night stands and an affair while his wife had cancer treatment.
Scriptwriters hastily devised a storyline that saw him depart for Germany in order to look after father Bill, who was convalescing after suffering a heart attack to explain his absence from the cobbles.
He reprised his role as Kevin in March 2014 after an absence of more than a year and has described the cast of the show as his ‘second family’ who have stood by him during difficult times.
He was publicly backed by castmates during the trial, including Kym Marsh, who said: ‘Michael has the full support of the cast, we’re very much behind him and we’re looking forward to having him back at work.’
SALLY DYNEVOR (SALLY METCALFE): 28 YEARS
Since 1986, Sally Dynevor has been a stalwart on the cobbles, despite having only been initially hired for four episodes. Pictured left in the 1970s
Over the years her character, also called Sally, has been at the centre of some of the soap’s most memorable storylines and has been married four times. Two of the marriages were to Kevin Webster (pictured together in 1987)
Since 1986, Sally Dynevor has been a stalwart on the cobbles, despite having only been initially hired for four episodes.
Over the years her character, also called Sally, has been at the centre of some of the soap’s most memorable storylines and has been married four times.
Two of the marriages were to Kevin Webster, and then twice to current husband Tim Metcalfe (though their first didn’t technically count as it turned out he was already married).
Sally has also survived numerous near-death scenarios, including becoming a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of Greg Kelly, a breast cancer battle, a minibus crash and the Underworld factory roof collapsing on top of her.
She’s believed to earn £200,000 a year for playing her popular character.
In real life, Sally, 61, discovered she had breast cancer while filming her character’s heartbreaking scenes in 2009, after the storyline prompted her to go for a check-up after feeling ‘something tiny’. She underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy and made a full recovery.
Sally is mother to Bridgerton actress Phoebe Dynevor, and recently confirmed her daughter’s engagement to Cameron Fuller on Loose Women.
She said she was ‘thrilled’ about her daughter’s news and called actor Cameron – the son of Hollywood producer Brad Fuller – a ‘lovely man’.
Sally previously said that she’d never expected to play her character for so long and revealed what would make her consider leaving the soap.
‘It was the ideal job when my kids were little as I live 20 minutes from the studio, so I was always home for bedtime,’ she told Prima magazine.
‘As soon as I don’t enjoy my role any more, I’ll leave. I’m a firm believer in doing what makes you happy.’
CHRIS CHITTELL (ERIC POLLARD): 28 YEARS
Emmerdale star Chris Chittell, 76, has played village stalwart Eric Pollard in the ITV programme since 1986 (pictured left)
When Chris first joined the cast, his character (pictured in 1986) was painted as a ladies man and wheeler-dealer, who had a slew of romances with soap favourites including Val Pollard and Faith Dingle
Emmerdale star Chris Chittell, 76, has played village stalwart Eric Pollard in the ITV programme since 1986.
When Chris first joined the cast, his character was painted as a ladies man and wheeler-dealer, who had a slew of romances with soap favourites including Val Pollard and Faith Dingle.
Chris has previously revealed that it is his character’s interesting storylines that have kept him in the soap all these years.
‘I can see Pollard heading downhill in five or 10 years’ time,’ he said to Inside Soap. ‘But you’re only ever as good as your last storyline.
‘I’ve always said that when the writers stop writing for Pollard, I’d leave. And although I’d hate it, I’d just shake everyone’s hand and say thank you very much, as the journey has been wonderful.
‘But when it does happen, I’ll just have to get the fishing rod out,’ added the actor.
Last year, viewers saw Chris at the centre of a moving storyline, after Eric was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s, the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, happens when the brain cells that make dopamine start to die and has no cure.
The Dales’ longest serving cast member, Chris worked closely with Emmerdale and the charity Parkinson’s UK.
Speaking of the heartbreaking but realistic storyline, Chris said: ‘I feel really privileged to be given this storyline. Parkinson’s is indiscriminate, deceptive and wickedly unkind targeting so many.
‘I want to do this storyline justice for the most courageous of people who are having to bear the brunt of this condition.’
ADAM WOODYATT (IAN BEALE): 29 YEARS
Adam Woodyatt has played Ian Beale in EastEnders since 1985 – but admitted in 2022 that it ‘can’t have been easy’ for his children when they were at school due to his fame as a soap star. Pictured left, in 1996, and right, in 2024
Adam Woodyatt has played Ian Beale in EastEnders since 1985 – before taking a short break in 2021.
But he reprised his role in 2023, telling Digital Spy: ‘The nicest thing is just going back to see all the faces.
‘The first day it must have taken half a day to say hello to everyone. I’m amazed we got anything filmed that first morning because I was just chatting.’
The actor admitted in 2022 that it ‘can’t have been easy’ for his children when they were at school due to his fame as a soap star.
He accepted that his on-screen role will have caused his issues for his two adult children – Jessie and Sam – who he shares with ex-wife Beverley.
Adam told The Daily Star: ‘You would have to ask them how going through school with Ian Beale as their father was. It can’t have been easy for them.
‘I did actually apologise for them once when I picked up an award. They must have gotten some stick at school.’
In November 2021, Adam surprised his family – along with the nation – when he joined I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! as a latecomer alongside Coronation Street star Simon Gregson.
Upon entering the show, Adam said: ‘I didn’t want to spoil the surprise and so I have been keeping very quiet about it.’
Adam exited I’m a Celeb in sixth place. The actor was part of a double elimination alongside Olympic gold medal winning diver, Matty Lee.
SIMON GREGSON (STEVE MCDONALD): 25 YEARS
Simon Gregson first hit the Corrie cobbles in 1989 (pictured left) – aged just 15 – and at the beginning, he had his fair share of questionable dealings
Simon Gregson first hit the Corrie cobbles in 1989 – aged just 15 – and at the beginning, he had his fair share of questionable dealings.
He was married seven times to five different women and became more of a comedic character, and is now seen as a soap legend.
Steve was first married to Vicky Arden (Chloe Newsome) from 1995 to 1997. He was then wed to Karen Phillips (Suranne Jones) from 2001 to 2003.
They separated for a year, during which Steve got Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) pregnant with their daughter Amy.
Steve and Karen then remarried in 2004 but called it quits in 2006. He wed Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly) in 2009 before splitting in 2011.
Steve married Tracy in 2012 and then wed again to Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) in 2015. The former couple had a son together, Ruairi, but tragically he was born prematurely and died.
Steve and Michelle split in 2017 after Steve revealed he had fathered a son, Oliver, following a one-night stand with Leanne Battersby.
In 2023, Simon opened up about his mental health and revealed that he had crippling anxiety for decades and lived in fear of what other people thought of him.
Simon said he was desperate for people to like him and was left in a vicious cycle of over-sharing and over-caring.
The star has since seen a psychiatrist, who has diagnosed him with anxiety and has started to overcome it with medication.
In an interview with The Sun, Simon said: ‘I used to be a terrible worrier, which affected me massively.
‘I went through a time where I was so worried about stuff that I actually started to get a bit of a problem, doubt myself, hate myself, worry about everything.
‘It was a problem, took me a while to get out of the situation. But I just suddenly thought to myself, when I’m on my deathbed, am I going to sit there and go, “I wish I worried more” – and it was like an epiphany.’
The actor doesn’t appear to have any thoughts of leaving the cobbles anytime soon and in March 2024 he told Digital Spy his ideas on where his character’s story should end up next.
‘I think it would be great if we see Steve having to go down the route of speed dating, online dating,’ he said. ‘Steve could have a full on mid life crisis, maybe we could see him losing weight, changing his appearance, going to the gym.
‘It could be a lot of fun and also a great excuse for me to make some changes in real life!’
STEVE MCFADDEN (PHIL MITCHELL): 24 YEARS
Few soap characters have ended up in more scrapes than Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, 65, in EastEnders
Few soap characters have ended up in more scrapes than Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, 65, in EastEnders.
His most prominent storylines include his battle with alcoholism – which led him to suffer from cirrhosis of the liver, problematic marriages and being shot – which sparked a whodunit mystery that gripped the nation.
Steve as Phil Mitchell made his first appearance in Albert Square in 1990 – and his former co-star Billy Murray said in 2021 that the actor should be knighted for his hard work on the soap.
Billy, who played gangster Johnny Allen between 2005 and 2006, believes that his former colleague deserves a honour for being in the BBC One soap for so long.
He told The Mirror: ‘Steve McFadden should be knighted. He works so hard. He should be Sir Steve.
‘He has been in EastEnders forever and it is tough working in a soap… Robert De Niro wouldn’t do it, the big actors wouldn’t. You get a script, learn the lines and then it all changes. It takes a lot of your energy.’
Phil quickly became rivals with Billy’s on-screen character Johnny Allen, with things escalating during the soap’s Get Johnny Week in early 2006, which also saw the return of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp).
Johnny was later killed off in October 2006, in which he died of a heart attack while serving time in prison.
Speaking about his dramatic storylines, Steve once told Digital Spy: ‘No-one gets called into the office to discuss their storylines and I’m not in the meetings where they decide. It’s best that it just gets chucked at me.’
The actor reportedly earns £200,000 per year.