Coronation Street actor shares message to fans after being mysteriously dropped from soap

Coronation Street Actor Sean Wilson has shared a message to fans after he was mysteriously dropped from the soap shortly after his return was announced.

In July, ITV revealed that Wilson would return to the role of Martin Platt as part of the exit storyline of long-running star Helen Worth, who plays his ex-wife Gail.

Worth, 73, revealed earlier this year that she had left the soap, which she joined in 1974. Her departure was said to have followed what was described as “a major storyline for the Platt family”.

Wilson, who was a regular on the soap in 2005, was due to return to the cobbles for the first time since 2018 – and has even started filming his scenes. He said of his return: “It was great to be invited back, to contribute to the story of Helen’s exit. We’ll have a few months to catch up with Martin and Gail, following the ebbs and flows of the storyline as it unfolds.”

“Playing Martin has been a joy from day one and in a way I’m going to be picking up where I left off, which will undoubtedly throw a wrench in the works for the Platt family. It’s like putting on a comfy old sweater from the back of the closet.”

However, his on-screen reunion with Gail in August was suddenly put on hold, with a source saying Online mail: “What’s really strange is that they had started filming most of the scenes, obviously with other cast members and a lot of crew on set, and everyone was expecting to do more filming with Sean before he left as part of Gail Platt’s exit storyline.

“To be suddenly told, without any explanation, ‘we’re not continuing and we’re going to do what we’ve already done with another actor’ is extremely unusual, unprecedented. Soap operas hate wasting time and money, so the situation must be serious enough for them to consider continuing untenable.”

“But the failure to tell the colleagues directly involved what was going on really caused a lot of ink to flow on set.”

Wilson and ITV have yet to comment on the news, but the actor, in his first message to fans since news of his quiet departure surfaced, wrote on Instagram: “Thanks for all the love.” The Independent has contacted ITV for comment.

Of his departure, Worth said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful business on the most beautiful street in the world. I made the decision at the beginning of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.

“I have been fortunate to be sent the most incredible scripts week after week and to work with fantastic actors and directors, as well as a brilliant crew.”

Worth has appeared a total of 4,453 times since she first joined the show in July 1974, a statistic that trails that of Ken Barlow actor Bill Roache, 92, who has made a total of 4,773 appearances since Coronation StreetThe very first episode aired on December 9, 1960.

She made her mark in one of the soap’s most controversial storylines when her 13-year-old daughter Sarah (played by Tina O’Brien) fell pregnant in 1999.

Other story arcs include her proximity to a number of murders, including her marriage to serial killer Richard Hillman (played by Brian Capron), her imprisonment for the murder of her husband Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale), and the locking of her son David Platt in the basement of a pub after discovering that he was going to kill his late wife Kylie’s murderer.

His numerous street fights with his enemy Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) will also remain in the history of the soap.

Last year, Worth was awarded an MBE for services to drama. Receiving the award from Prince William, the actor said: “It’s an absolutely wonderful feeling. To receive an MBE is something very special.”