After a year of murder, tragedy and agony, the residents of Coronation Street – not to mention the fans – are hoping for a bit of respite from it all, and the popular show’s brand new boss may have some good news for us all.

Incoming producer Kate Brooks, known previously for her work on award-winning sister soap Emmerdale, has taken the reins at Weatherfield and has fully embraced her first big responsibility – writing out Helen Worth’s cobbles stalwart Gail Platt on Christmas Day.

Easier said than done!

You’ll be glad to know that our beloved Gail won’t be killed off and Kate promised Metro a festive season that is ‘fun and lively but with a lot of bombshells dropped.’

What Kate insists she wants to tap into is ‘classic Corrie but with a modern twist’, and the frolics will centre on Gail’s wedding to Jesse Chadwick.

Kate on Gail’s exit

‘This is a story with the Platts at the heart of it, it’s really festive,’ she told us. ‘It’s a story about how secrets impact and implode on a family, so there’s a lot of betrayals, and lots of secrets are exposed during this episode.

‘I think we’re all in need of a bit of escapism at the minute and we’ve had quite a dark but brilliant few months on the cobbles. The Christmas period for us is all about trying to tap into the family dynamics of the Platts, what makes people tick and ultimately trying to make sure that we give glorious Gail the exit that she deserves.

‘We can’t tell a story on Christmas Day about her exit without itbeing steeped in nostalgia, and there’s tons of that in this episode – hopefully people will be crying, they’ll be laughing, there’ll be gasps and people will sit back afterwards and feel that it was just what they needed.’

That’s not to say there won’t be some angst in the mix too. For Gail’s relatives, there are other more pressing matters at play.

David and Shona’s marriage is hanging by a thread, while Bethany continues to struggle following the botched cosmetic surgery.

As conflicts erupt, Kate admitted that Gail is oblivious as ‘bombs go off all around her,’ until she makes some discoveries that leave her questioning everything she has ever done in a final hurrah for the character that is sure to keep people talking.

Kate continued: ‘I’m devastated that Gail’s leaving, because she’s so iconic and I think that label gets bandied about quite readily – but it’s Gail! 50 years she’s been on the Street!

‘It was really important to make sure that her departure felt really fitting and in keeping with who she is as a character.’

Kate on Carla and Lisa

It’s not just a Platt-fest though. Coronation Street will also be platforming Weatherfield’s newest power couple.

Now that Carla Connor and DS Lisa Swain are in a relationship, Kate confirmed to us that the other locals begin to find out about the pairing.

‘Carla initially flinches a little bit at the idea of people gossiping, and it’s not about sexuality but she’s just a bit unsure,’ she explained.

‘But once she realises everyone is absolutely fine about it, then it’s all systems go, so Christmas will be when they really commit to each other, when they declare how they feel for each other and when they stop circling each other and touching each other’s hair!’

Of course, this is just the beginning of Kate’s tenure and it’s clear when talking that her brain is just bursting with plans – many of which we aren’t allowed to reveal quite yet!

But while Christmas promises to be fuzzy, festive, funny and full, 2025 will also bring plenty of high octane drama.

With the Platts still at the centre of the show, caught up in a dramatic new year fire, it’s clear Kate is hitting the ground running and the end of Gail marks the beginning of an explosive new era.

Kate on Bethany and Daniel

There’s nothing like a messy love triangle in soap and things are going to get yet more complicated for Daniel as he finds himself torn once more between Bethany and Daisy.

Kate told us: ‘Daniel is in love with two women, and not many people can pull that off – but if anyone can, a Barlow can, and he is absolutely torn over what to do for the best.

‘He wants to be with Bethany, but sometimes when you make a little mistake, things can come back and bite you on the bum.

‘It’s super exciting as we wonder what the heck Daniel is going to do and how does he get out of this hole?

‘What I love about it is there are no good guys or bad guys, it’s just these three people have found themselves in this situation and they just want to find their own happiness, but it comes at a cost!’

With Daniel doing something he regrets, there will be plenty of twists and turns, Kate assured us. It’s going to get quite out of hand!

Kate on David and Shona

Having betrayed Shona by interfering in her contact with jailed son Clayton, David is very much in the doghouse with her this Christmas.

But if we thought things were bad between them now, it’s about to get much worse with fresh betrayals and angst sending the couple crashing to the rocks.

Kate said: ‘David has made huge mistakes in hiding visiting orders from Clayton, this goes on to have massive consequences and Shona hits that self destruct behaviour!

‘She makes some really terrible judgement calls but what is important for me about David and Shona is that they can both really mess up, but that love that they have is so strong.

‘But can they overcome all of this? I can’t say!’

We have seen David hit rock bottom a number of times and when Shona recovers her volatile edge, she is a force to be reckoned with. Add in the threat of the upcoming fire at the Platt household, it’s fair to say Christmas is the build-up to some extreme pandemonium for this pair!

Kate on Leanne and Nick

It’s been hard to keep up with where Nick’s heart truly lies but, as Christmas comes, it seems to be settled very much with Toyah. But how will that land with her sister – and Nick’s ex-wife – Leanne? Not well, is the gist we got from Kate!

‘Leanne’s a Battersby – she’s scrappy and she’s feisty, and she sees the life that she had just being taken away from her.

‘She really wants to make them pay and is intent on getting her own revenge. It can be at the detriment of her own sanity sometimes, but she wants to make them realise what they’ve done to her.

‘Nick’s betrayal is one thing, but the betrayal of a sister is huge, and I just love that dynamic between Toyah and Leanne, I think it’s fantastic.

‘I remember really vividly them coming onto the street in peak Spice Girls era, they barrelled onto the street, little Sporty Spice and Scary Spice!

‘So tapping into how they were as Battersbys was really important, and that all comes to the forefront on Christmas Day and it doesn’t end well for anyone!’