News broke earlier this year that Gail Platt (Helen Worth) would be leaving Coronation Street after 50 years. Next week, her exit storyline kicks off.
Fans will know that Sean Wilson was meant to reprise his role as Martin Platt for Gail’s departure. As a result of him suddenly leaving the ITV soap, former Corrie star John Thomson is now heading back to the cobbles as Jesse Chadwick.
The catalyst for Gail making a life-changing decision about her future in Weatherfield is Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon). After botched surgery in Turkey, Bethany has struggled to pay for the medical fees as a result of problems with insurance.
Next week, David (Jack P Shepherd) breaks the news to Shona (Julia Goulding) that Gail has taken out a bridging loan to pay for Bethany’s flight home, and is now committed to selling the house.
As Bethany prepares to come home, Eileen (Sue Cleaver) is on the cobbles and absolutely gobsmacked to see ex-boyfriend Jesse climbing out of a taxi.
Just as Gail gets back, she spots Jesse and later reveals to Eileen that she met Jesse a few years ago in Thailand.
Ushered into Number 8, Jesse is faced with the very shocked Platt family. While Adam (Sam Robertson) is discussing Damon’s (Ciaran Griffiths) hidden money with Daniel (Rob Mallard), Jesse states that he recognises him from Sarah’s (Tina O’Brien) wedding pictures.
After meeting Jesse in the café, Shona urges Sarah and David to sit down and talk to him. But what will Jesse have to say?
‘He met Gail in Thailand, he’s heard about Bethany and he’s very worried’, star John Thomson revealed.
‘So on his travels he’s returned via Weatherfield to check on Gail, because they’ve stayed in touch via email. He’s heard all about Bethany and he’s very concerned for Gail.
‘So two [Platts] like him and two hate him! Shona and Nick are prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, whereas David and Sarah are absolutely not, it’s just total mistrust from the start. There is the thinking that they need a decent man in their lives but as soon as David lists all Gail’s previous it’s no wonder that there is a mistrust because Gail’s sense of judgement over men has been very poor.
‘Really Shona and Nick are very generous in their offer to wipe the slight clean and see what Jesse might be like given Gail’s history. Jesse’s going to have to work really hard to get David and Sarah on his side and see he is just a friend who cares about Gail because there’s a real sense of mistrust about his motives.’
