September 28th 2024.
Tricia and Gail were more than just friends, they were best pals. They had been through everything together and their bond was unbreakable. So when former Coronation Street star Kathy Jones expressed her desire to reprise her role as Tricia Hopkins, fans were ecstatic.
In an interview with The Agency, Kathy, now 70, revealed that she would "jump at the chance" to return to the show and be a part of Helen Worth's exit storyline as Gail Platt. Kathy had appeared in 122 episodes of the popular ITV soap between 1973 and 1976, including Helen's first scene as Gail where the two girls tried to charm Ray Langton on the bench outside the demolished No. 7.
Now, fifty years later, Helen is preparing to leave the show. Executive producer Iain Macleod had originally planned for her departure to coincide with the return of her ex-husband Martin Platt. But due to personal reasons, actor Sean Wilson, who played Martin, had to exit the show. This led to a change in the storyline and the return of Martin will now be portrayed by actor and comedian John Thomson.
Kathy, who had already filmed scenes for the upcoming storyline, expressed her excitement on Twitter, saying, "Oh heck, what's gone on? I'm here...just waiting for the call!" Fans were quick to show their support for Kathy's return, with many saying she was the "obvious choice" for the role.
In her exclusive interview, Kathy shared her thoughts on the possibility of Tricia returning to the show. She said she was always open to the idea, but also acknowledged that it may be difficult for the writers to bring her back after 50 years. However, she added, "Never say never."
The Hopkins family, including Tricia, had taken over the corner shop in 1974. But due to Granny Hopkins' meddling, the family had to do a moonlight flit and leave the street. Tricia was the only one who stayed behind and eventually moved in with Gail at No. 15a. She even helped run the shop during Blanche Hunt's absence.
Kathy also shared some behind-the-scenes memories of her time on the show, particularly her friendship with Helen. She recalled their first scene together, saying it was "strange" as they were supposed to be great friends but had only met 5 minutes earlier. However, they got along famously and never had a cross word.
Although Kathy left the show before the internet era, she kept in touch with the cast and crew, including Helen. She would often drop by the set to catch up with everyone. She was shocked to hear of Helen's departure, as she had thought she would stay on the show for as long as Bill Roache (who plays Ken Barlow).
As the interview concluded, Kathy expressed her love for the show and her fondness for the memories she had made while working on it. She also reminded fans to stay updated on all things soaps on the homepage and to join the community by leaving a comment below. This article was originally published on 20th August 2024.
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