A Coronation Street icon has been grilled about whether they could return for Gail Platt star Helen Worth's exit storyline.
It was announced over the weekend that the cobbles legend Thelma Barlow has decided to return to the limelight after quitting the soap 26 years ago. The actress is best known for playing Mavis Wilton in the ITV soap. She is now set to star in a short film at the age of 95. Thelma has signed up for Sleepless In Settle, which follows a mother trying to find a wife for her son, and she has reunited with former co-star Judy Flynn, who wrote and directed the short film.
Appearing on Monday's Good Morning Britain to talk about the news with Judy, 61, chat soon got onto Coronation Street and whether Thelma could make a return, especially for Gail star Helen's exit storyline. It was announced last month that Gail star Helen, 73, is leaving her role after a huge five decades and some iconic scenes on the cobbles.
Host Ed Balls asked: "I know you've said you aren't going to go back if they came along now and said they had a new role for you, but aren't you just a little bit tempted, a little cameo role if they came along with some idea? Maybe with Gail leaving, a Gail moment?" to which Thelma laughed as she replied: "No. I’d be far too terrified. I’d be so frightened to do something that was commercial and in a big studio."
Ed's co-host Susanna Reid then asked: "Is there no way they can drag you back to Corrie?" to which Thelma admitted: "Never say no but I would just be too frightened." Ed then continued to ask about a Corrie return, suggesting Mavis could make a surprise appearance during Gail's final scenes to which Thelma quipped: "Oh don't keep on, leave me out!" before opening up on her friendship with Helen, revealing she had come down to support her new film over the weekend.
It comes as Gail star Helen's exit storyline has reportedly been revealed ahead of her bowing out of the cobbles after 50 years. It was announced earlier this year that Gail star Helen, 73, is leaving her role after a huge five decades and some iconic scenes on the cobbles. Details of what the storyline will be that leads to Gail leaving the soap after decades on screen have not been confirmed, but bosses have teased that it will be "emotional" and will no doubt be a fitting departure for a soap legend.
Helen will depart in scenes at the end of this year, whilst filming has yet to begin for the storyline. It’s no doubt been planned for some time, in time for Gail and Helen’s 50th year on the show. And now details of the exit storyline have reportedly emerged with Gail set to 'rekindle her romance with Martin Platt and sail off into the sunset'. This will apparently mean a return for Martin actor, Sean Wilson, who left in 2005 before a brief comeback in 2018.
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.
"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 plotline has many nuances, twists and turns but script writers all want this to feel like a gorgeous end of Gail’s story, with her finally finding her happy ending." The Mirror has contacted Coronation Street for comment.
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