Coronation Street paid a moving tribute to the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing ahead of the fifth anniversary of the atrocity. During a scene on this evening's show, soap stalwarts Gail Platt and Eileen Grimshaw, played by actors Helen Worth and Sue Cleaver, laid flowers at a memorial bench previously installed at the ITV studio.
A community garden and a special commemorative bench were installed in 2018 at the soap's new home in Trafford. The memorial includes a plaque in memory of the 22 victims including Corrie superfan Martyn Hett.
It reads: "For Martyn and all those who lost their lives on the 22nd of May 2017. We stand together." Gail and Eileen, who have historically feuded over their many years on the show, came together to pay tribute ahead of the fifth anniversary of the attack on Sunday.
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"It's a lovely bench, isn't it?," Gail said in a scene broadcast tonight. Eileen replied: "It is, it's just a crying shame it even has to be here.
"Five years on Sunday," Gail said. "I know," Eileen replied.
Gail said: "Could have been any one of us, couldn't it, any one of us from this street." "Our kids, grandkids," Eileen replied.
"They went out for a concert, and they never came back," said Gail. Wryly noting how the pair were being 'civil' with each other, Gail said: "Some things are bigger than you and me, Eileen."
Soap fans paid tribute to the scene. Referencing Martyn Hett, @LiamLambrini tweeted: "An absolutely stunning tribute in tonight’s Corrie, so special that he will always be a part of his favourite TV show and it was amazing to be able to go and see it."
@BazGrant1 said: "Oh #Corrie I was not expecting that tonight. What a lovely tribute. Beautiful." @Vix_79 said: "Loved the tribute to Martyn Hett and the other victims of the #ManchesterArena on tonight’s #Corrie."
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