Coronation Street rocked by Christmas disaster as fans 'work out' Gail Platt's exit

Coronation Street fans have shared their thoughts and theories about how Gail Platt (played by Helen Worth) will bow out of the soap after 50 years. After an impressive run of 50 years since her first appearance on the series, audiences will watch Helen and Gail bid goodbye to Weatherfield in a key plot development involving the Platt clan.

The task of filming her exit scenes will commence next month, and viewers can expect these emotional moments to air by the year's end. Commenting on her heart-wrenching decision to leave, Helen remarked: "This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world. I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding."

"I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in and week out and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors, and a brilliant crew. The past 50 years have flown by and I don't think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet."

Iain Macleod, Executive Producer, stepped in to honour this standout performer, commenting: "The words 'legend' and 'icon' get used a lot these days but they genuinely do apply to Gail and to Helen Worth.

"However, given her humility, I know Helen won't thank me for saying so! In Helen's hands, Gail has been a huge part of Coronation Street for five decades and at the centre of some of the most memorable storylines - often deriving from her catastrophically bad luck in choosing husbands!"

"Her ill-fated marriage to Richard Hillman was one of the most ground-breaking stories in soap history and cemented Gail's already established status as one of the Corrie greats."

He added: "As the matriarch of the Platt clan, her affectionately prickly relationships with her kids and flighty mum Audrey epitomise what makes the show great: complicated family dynamics brought to life impeccably by Helen's dramatic and comedic chops, alongside those of her fictional clan.

"Gail has given us countless hours of entertainment but it should also be said that Helen herself is a consummate professional and a thoroughly good egg."

"Everyone connected to the show will miss having her around the place just as much as the viewers will miss having her on their screens and we wish her all the very best for the future."

Following the announcement, fans took to social media to share their thoughts on Gail's exit - and whether she will be killed off.

And while some are hoping Gail gets her "happy ending", others have shared their concerns about how she will leave.

Predicting a tragic health storyline, another fan stated: "She's done a good job, maybe they could give her a solid goodbye like a dementia storyline."

"Hope she doesn't get killed off," another shared their concern.

A third went on: "Let's hope she has a good departure from the soap, full of drama."

"Hope she gets a great story to go out with," someone else suggested.

Another pleaded: "Let's have a happy ending for her then. Move abroad with the man of her dreams."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV.