CORONATION Street is bringing back comedian John Thomson to replace axed Sean Wilson’s character Martin Platt.
Cold Feet and Fast Show star John, 55, will have a romance plotline with Martin’s ex-wife Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, 73, who is leaving the ITV soap.
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Bosses had to drum up the emergency tale after axing 59-year-old Sean’s character just two weeks ago — as revealed on Saturday by The Sun.
Cast and crew were baffled by Sean’s leaving.
A spokeswoman said he “stepped down for personal reasons”.
A source said of John’s return: “It’s been an absolutely frantic, incredibly stressful past couple of weeks for Corrie bosses and scriptwriters.
“So many new departure storylines for Gail were mooted but they were set on a love interest one – which proved tricky as she buried five of her six ex-husbands. And the remaining living one, Martin, was obviously axed in real life.
“They wanted a recognisable name and plumped for John as his character was popular with viewers and a real blast from the past.”
Coronation Street’s 2024 shock exits
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let’s break down who’s left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
John arrived on the Cobbles as a biker in 1990 and returned in 2008 as Jesse Chadwick until 2010.
His return gives Gail the chance of a last laugh over sworn enemy Eileen Grimshaw — who Jesse dated — before she leaves later this year.
Our source said: “Obviously his character, Jesse, had a doomed fling with Eileen, so they thought having him come back onto the cobbles and flirt with Eileen’s frenemy would be both funny and a fantastic final fling.
“Of course it would also leave the door open for Gail’s return one day should she ever fancy a special cameo.”
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