Coronation Street stars reveal Helen Worth's biggest concern when she quit as Gail
Jack P Shepherd and Ben Price open up about the moment the Corrie legend revealed she was leaving the soap.
After 50 years playing the role of Gail Rodwell, Helen Worth will soon be bidding farewell to the Coronation Street cobbles but her co-stars have revealed what the actress's main concern was at the time of telling them the news.
Speaking on their podcast On The Sofa, Jack P Shepherd and Ben Price (who play Worth's on-screen sons David and Nick) were asked by co-presenter and fellow Corrie star Colson Smith about when Worth told them the news of her monumental departure.
Shepherd said: "Maybe this time last year, so November." Price added: "She rang us all."
Shepherd went on: "It was about November time, wasn't it? She phoned us – first of all, I got a missed call from her and I thought 'That's a butt dial.' So I blank it and then I got a text from Tina [O'Brien] saying, 'Helen's trying to ring you.' So I thought, 'Oh, this is bad.'"
He went on: "So I phoned her, she said, 'Oh hello, I've told –'. She told Ben, she'd told Tina so I instantly now know she's off. And she says, 'I'm going, I've decided to leave' type thing, and she feels as though she's done her time... which is fine.
"Bloody hell, if anybody else... 50 years in any gig is a long time."
Price then added: "I think she was more nervous about ringing us than she was about leaving."
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While we don't know exactly how Worth will exit the series just yet, news of her departure was announced earlier this year and it was confirmed she would be leaving this year.
Filming for her emotional final scenes took place last month with a spokesperson for ITV confirming at the time to RadioTimes.com that it was Worth's last week of filming on Coronation Street.
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Speaking previously, Worth said: "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 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."
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Authors
Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.
