Coronation Street Helen Worth is a soap legend playing Gail Platt – but fans are now baffled after learning she has a totally different real name
Coronation Street fans have been left gobsmacked after discovering legend Helen Worth’s real name. Telly favourite Helen made her cobbles debut way back in 1974, playing Gail Platt. And it didn’t take her long to become one of the soap’s beloved and iconic characters.
What’s more, unlucky-in-love Gail has been at the centre of some of the soap’s biggest storylines. Her ill-fated and tragic love life, includes five husbands, four of whom died. And who could forget her entanglement with Richard Hillman who tried to kill her and the rest of her family back in 2003.
Playing Gail, Helen received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Inside Soap Awards in 2006, and again at the British Soap Awards 2014 in honour of her 40th year on the show.
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Earlier this year though, it was confirmed that Helen was leaving the soap after 50 years. Her departure was confirmed in June, with the original exit storyline due to feature Gail’s ex-husband Martin Platt (Sean Wilson).
However, it was reported that Sean had left – despite already filming weeks’ worth of scenes. As a result, the soap enlisted past star John Thomson, who plays Jesse Chadwick to return as part of Gail’s exit.
Last week, Jesse made his comeback – and it was revealed that he and Gail had struck up a holiday romance a few years back, when they were both travelling in Thailand. However, away from the soap, fans have been left floored after only just learning Helen Worth has a very different real name. Helen was born Cathryn Helen Wigglesworth.
On a Corrie Facebook fan page, one person said: “Suddenly just learned that Helen Worth’s real name IS Cathryn Helen Wigglesworth!?!” Someone else replied: “Whaaat! That is brand new information to me!” A third wrote: “I genuinely thought that Helen was her real name.”
Speaking about her upcoming departure, Helen 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.”
