June 4th 2024.
Can you believe it? Helen, better known as Gail Rodwell on Coronation Street, has been a part of the show for an incredible fifty years! And it looks like she's not going anywhere anytime soon, as she has reportedly signed a new contract that will increase her yearly appearances on the hit ITV soap.
When Helen first joined the show, she played the feisty teenager Gail Potter, who quickly became one of the most iconic characters on the street. Over the years, Gail has been through it all - she's been married five times, been driven into a canal, dealt with her daughter's teenage pregnancy, and even spent time in prison for a murder she didn't commit.
Her first marriage was to the mechanic Brian Tilsley in 1979, and they welcomed their son Nicky a year later. Despite both of them being unfaithful, they reunited after the birth of their daughter Sarah and remarried in 1988. Unfortunately, just a year later, Brian was tragically stabbed to death outside a nightclub.
Her second marriage was to Martin Platt in 1991, with whom she had her son David. However, their relationship was tested when Martin had an affair with nurse Rebecca, and they eventually divorced in 2000. Martin went on to marry teenager Katy Harris, while Gail moved on to her third husband.
Richard Hillman, Gail's third husband, turned out to be a serial killer who was planning to take her friends and family's homes through an equity release scheme. He even tried to kill Gail and her family by driving them into a canal, but they were luckily rescued. However, Richard later drowned, and Gail was falsely imprisoned for his murder.
Her fourth husband was Joe McIntyre, who was in a relationship with Gail's daughter Sarah before they broke up. Gail then took a liking to Joe and married him, but their happiness was short-lived as Joe planned to fake his own death in Lake Windermere. However, things went wrong, and Joe ended up drowning, leaving Gail to be wrongfully imprisoned once again.
Gail's fifth and most recent marriage was to Michael Rodwell, who she met when he was burgling her house. After a few years of marriage, Michael suffered a heart attack and passed away in front of murderer Pat Phelan, who did nothing to save him.
Helen's last appearance on the show was in March, which marked her 4,579th episode. But it looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of her soon, as she has reportedly signed a new contract worth £250,000 per year. This could potentially make her the longest-serving soap actor in the world, overtaking William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow and has starred in 4,843 episodes since the show first aired in 1960.
A source revealed that Helen's involvement in so many big storylines is what makes her appearance rate so high, and she could soon surpass Bill's record. Her most recent storyline involved the shocking revelation that her brother Stephen was a serial killer, adding to the already difficult life Gail has had on the street.
But despite all the drama, Gail remains one of the most beloved characters on the show, and fans can't get enough of her. So if you're a fan of soaps like EastEnders, Coronation Street, or Emmerdale, join our exclusive WhatsApp community and stay updated on all the latest spoilers, gossip, and must-watch videos. And don't forget to keep checking our homepage for all things soaps!
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