Coronation Street star Sean Wilson is returning to the cobbles as Martin Platt, six years after his last appearance in Weatherfield.
The actor, 59, has begun filming his return stint, and will first appear on screen in October as part of Helen Worth’s exit storyline.
In the scenes, Martin’s son David (played by Jack P Shepherd) is shocked to find his dad at the house and is immediately suspicious about his reason for coming back into their lives.
As Sean picked up his first scripts to start shooting, he said: ‘It was great to be invited back to Coronation Street again, to contribute to Helen’s exit story.
‘We’ll have a few months to catch up with Martin and Gail again, following the ebbs and flows of the unfolding storyline.
Coronation Street star Sean Wilson is returning to the cobbles as Martin Platt, six years after his last appearance in Weatherfield
‘Playing Martin has been a joy since day one and in a way, I’ll be slipping back to where I left off, which no doubt will throw a spanner into the heart of the Platt family.
‘It’s just like slipping on an old and comfortable jumper from the back of the wardrobe… I’m looking forward to reuniting with my TV family.’
Sean played Martin for 20 years from 1985 to 2005, before he and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 2018 and he paid one final visit to Weatherfield before his departure to make his peace with David, who was upset that his dad was leaving the country.
According to The Sun, Gail will have a happy ending after all as she will rekindle her romance with Martin Platt and sail off into the sunset in her emotional exit storyline.
Sean, who is widely known for his role as Martin in the ITV soap, will make his return for her final scenes after quitting the show in 2005 to become a cheese-maker.
And although the pair’s ten-year union ended when Sean’s character Martin had an affair, he is considered the most successful relationship in Gail’s previous five marriages.
A source told The Sun: ‘A number of options were considered for Gail’s departure from the cobbles but bosses knew the moment needed to truly celebrate one of Corrie’s most iconic characters as well as honour Helen’s astonishing run on the soap.’
‘It just didn’t sit right to kill her off or have Gail suffer more tragedy after, let’s face it, a pretty traumatic life.
The actor will make his return for Helen Worth’s exit storyline after quitting the show in 2005 to become a cheese-maker
The actor has begun filming his return stint, and will first appear on screen in October
Martin is returning to rekindle his old romance with Gail, in the hopes of whisking her off into the sunset as part of her exit (both pictured in 2000)
It comes after Helen quit her role on the cobbles after successfully playing the character for 50 years from 1974 (pictured in 2019)
‘Martin was always considered the one that got away and bosses are thrilled they’ve been able to tempt Sean back to wave Gail goodbye.’
The source also revealed viewers should expect to see ‘many twists and turns’ but the scriptwriters want Gail’s story to end with a happy ending.
It comes after Helen quit her role on the cobbles after successfully playing the character for 50 years from 1974.
The news devastated fans across the UK and some took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to speculate how her character’s storyline will end.
ITV confirmed that she will start filming her exit story next month and the ’emotional’ scenes will be on screen at the end of the year.
Sharing the news of her exit, Helen said: ‘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.’
Thankfully, Helen hasn’t had quite a dramatic life as her character, and once admitted she would ‘be in a mental institution’ if her life was like Gail’s.
She added: ‘I come home and see friends and go to the theatre. Luckily I find it quite easy to switch off – I’d be a nervous wreck if I didn’t.’