HELEN Worth has been spotted for the first time since her surprise Coronation Street exit was confirmed as her shockingly low episode count for the year was revealed.
Following the confirmation that Helen would be quitting her role after 50 years, the actress cut a glum figure as she ran a series of errands in London.
She was spotted with a shopping bag in tow as she wandered through the streets of London where she lives with her husband, Trevor Dawson.
Despite her exit coming as a huge shock to Coronation Street fans across the country, it appeared that the writing was on the wall for her exit at Corrie after her episode count for the year significantly dwindled.
Helen has played Gail in just EIGHT episodes this year despite a grand total of seventy episodes being produced, The Sun can reveal.
Currently the soap broadcasts three episodes a week and Gail has not been seen for 10 weeks having last been featured briefly in an episode aired on the 25th March in which she attended her grandson Harry Platt’s birthday party.
In the aforementioned episode, she only racked up seconds worth of dialogue thanks to being included in just two scenes.
Helen played Gail in three episodes in January, three episodes in February and just two episodes in March despite her reported bumper £250,000 salary.
Last year, Gail managed to appear in 54 episodes as well as 61 the year prior to that.
Helen confirmed in her bombshell statement that she had told bosses of her plans to leave at the beginning of the year coinciding with her single-figure appearance count.
At her prime, Helen appeared in a total of 152 episodes in a single year but she has failed to hit the 100 mark since 2016.
From 2017, Helen appeared to half her episode count after going from a comfortable range of 120-140 episodes a year to around 60-70 between 2017 and 2022 before her significant lack of episodes this year.
Corrie bosses confirmed that Helen will begin filming her exit storyline next month with the scenes set to air this Christmas.
Revealing her exit, 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.
“The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
Helen’s exit will come towards the end of the year with bosses working on a goodbye worthy of the character.
With the ITV soap teasing it will be an emotional exit, it seems likely that viewers will be saying a final farewell to Gail.
Speculation has already begun to mount that other high-profile stars, including Sue Nicholls who plays her on-screen mum Audrey, could follow her out of the door.
Soap scriptwriter Daran Little, who worked closely with Helen and Sue for 10 years, tweeted: “My gut feeling is Sue won’t want to stay long without Helen. No insider knowledge, just a feeling.”
Former actor Charlie Lawson also predicted a show trend as he told GB News: “This may be a good or a bad thing but it may start a trend [among the cast].
“There are a number of people in Corrie who are… I mean William Roache is over 90, Barbara [Knox] is not far behind, Sue Nicholls, some of these people are getting on.
“As much as we would love to see them die in harness as we say, I would not be surprised and nor would I blame any of them if they’ve done their time that they want to go and have a nice final 20 years of their lives with all the money that they’ve made then so be it!”
Helen Worth quits Corrie - My View
By Carl Greenwood, Soaps Editor
Actress Helen made her first appearance on the cobbles in 1973 as Gail Potter – and has lived most of her life on them and what a life it’s been.
Beloved by millions through the last half a century, Helen created one of the most iconic characters on British television.
Behind only Ken Barlow co-star Bill Roache, Helen has appeared in more episodes of a television series than anyone else.
She’s had more weddings – and surnames – than almost anyone else and buried multiple husbands – all but one ended up dead.
Three kids, four grandkids and a serial killer husband (and brother) – Gail has been at the forefront of Corrie for decades.
She’s been imprisoned, framed for murder, almost murdered multiple times, she’s survived serial killers, her own children and a concerning addiction to olives.
Not to mention countless street brawls with frenemy Eileen Grimshaw.
But through it all she’s remained a Corrie icon and her exit will leave a colossal hole on the cobbles – much bigger than the sinkhole that opened up in her back garden.
New Coronation Street boss Kate Brooks has her work cut out to give Helen and Gail the epic goodbye she deserves.
