Coronation Street actor Sean Wilson has reached out to fans after his unexpected departure from the soap.
Helen Worth’s final scenes as Gail Platt were thrown into uncertainty when representatives for ITV confirmed Wilson – who played her ex-husband Martin – had left the show for “personal reasons”.
The 59-year-old last appeared on the cobbles six years ago and was set to reappear on screen in October as part of the departure of Gail’s character after 50 years on the ITV soap.
An initial announcement said Wilson was to start filming scenes on July 24, with a storyline featuring his on-screen son David (Jack P Shepherd) shocked to find his father at the house and immediately suspicious about his return to their lives.
But the brakes were suddenly put on his on-screen reunion with Gail in August.
A source told MailOnline: “What is really odd, is that they had started filming most of the scenes, obviously with other cast members and lots of crew on set, and everyone was expecting to shoot more with Sean before he left again as part of the Gail Platt exit storyline.
“So to suddenly be told, ‘We’re not continuing and we’re going to re-shoot what we’ve already done with another actor’ without any explanation is extremely unusual – unheard of.
“If nothing else, the soaps hate wasting time and money – so the situation must be serious enough for them to feel carrying on is untenable. But to not tell the colleagues directly involved what is going on has really got the rumour mill fired up on set.”
Neither Wilson nor ITV have officially addressed the situation, but the actor took to Instagram this week to share his first message since news of his sudden exit broke, writing: “Thanks for all the love.”
In August, the broadcaster said it would not be commenting further on the situation, after previously saying Worth would leave following a “major storyline for the Platt family”.
Wilson last appeared in the soap in 2018 when Martin and his family emigrated to New Zealand. He paid one final visit to Weatherfield before his departure to make his peace with David, who was upset that his father was leaving the country.
The TV star, who played Martin for 20 years from 1985 to 2005, previously said it was great to be invited to “contribute to Helen’s exit story”.
He added: “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.”
Since then, it was reported that John Thomson would replace Wilson’s in the storyline.
The Standard has contacted ITV for comment.
