Coronation Street’s Sean Wilson has claimed the soap had run out of “great acting and writing” ahead of its now-cancelled return.
The 59-year-old actor It was set to will reprise his role as Martin Platt in October as part of his ex-wife Gail’s exit as actress Helen Worth, 73, prepares to retire from the cobbles.
But reports suggest he suddenly left the show after being “summoned to head office” before quitting for “personal reasons”, forcing a frantic rewrite of Gail’s entire exit storyline.
Earlier this year, Sean said soap storylines were now “issue-focused” and tried and failed to solve world problems, compared to his own time on the show between 1985 and 2005, when audiences would watch it in droves and be left “laughing and crying”.
Narration The daily star‘I think the soap world is a different vehicle today. I think I was part of the British soap industry at its peak, the glory years, when there were 18 to 21 million people watching.’
Coronation Street’s Sean Wilson, 59, claimed the soap had run out of “great acting and scripts” ahead of its now-cancelled return.
The actor was due to reprise his role as Martin Platt in October as part of his ex-wife Gail’s exit as actress Helen Worth, 73, prepares to retire from the cobbles (pictured together on the show).
“On a Wednesday or a Friday you could walk down the street and hear people laughing with their windows open because the great writing and great acting really spoke to the nation. I don’t think that happens as much today.”
He continued: “People don’t have to watch it anymore. They were all chained together; you were five minutes away from laughing and five minutes away from crying. Nowadays it seems like it’s all about the problems, trying to solve the world’s problems, which they’re not going to do.”
As reported by The sunSean was summoned to a meeting with bosses and left without “giving any explanation” to his co-stars.
A source told the publication: “It’s come as a complete and utter shock to everyone, and his sudden exit has shaken everyone involved with Corrie. Sean was enjoying his time on the show and was very popular on set.
‘He had filmed scenes with a large cast, but was suddenly summoned to the head office and then it was leaked that he would not be returning or that his scenes would be broadcast, but he offered no explanation.
‘It’s clearly a blow for bosses, who now have to find a magical new happy ending for Helen, but they are confident they will succeed and deliver something wonderful for viewers.’
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: “Sean Wilson has left filming for personal reasons.”
Sean’s agent told the publication: “Neither he nor I will be making any further comment or statement.”
Earlier this year, Sean claimed soap storylines were now “issue-focused” and trying and failing to solve world problems, compared to his own time on the show (pictured on the show in 2003).
She recalled a time when audiences watched the film in droves and were left “laughing and crying” (pictured with co-star Helen Worth and Tina O’Brien).
Sean was reportedly summoned to a meeting with bosses and left without “giving any explanation” to his co-stars (pictured with scripts earlier this year).
Sean played Martin for 20 years before he and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 2018 and made one final visit to Weatherfield before his departure to make amends with David, who was upset about his father leaving the country.
Although the couple’s ten-year union ended when Sean’s character Martin had an affair, it is considered the most successful of Gail’s five previous marriages.
In July, it was confirmed that Sean would reprise his role as Martin, as part of Gail’s exit after 50 years on the cobbles.
As Sean collected his first scripts to begin filming, he said: “It was fantastic to be invited back to Coronation Street to contribute to Helen’s exit story.”
He added: ‘We’ll have a few months to catch up with Martin and Gail again, following the ups and downs of the developing story.
‘Playing Martin has been a joy from day one and in some ways I’ll be picking up where I left off, which will no doubt be a huge blow to the Platt family.
“It’s like putting on an old, comfortable sweater from the back of the closet… I can’t wait to be reunited with my TV family.”
However, this week a rep for the soap said the actor left “for personal reasons” and none of Sean’s scenes will be aired, with Gail’s entire exit storyline now being frantically rewritten by bosses.
Although his baffling departure remains a mystery, long-time fans will remember how at one point Sean said he would never set foot on the cobbles again, after quitting in 2005 over a storyline involving his character Martin seducing an underage girl.
The soap star fell out bitterly with her bosses at the time because she refused to be involved in the storyline, with Sean branding them “rude” as he walked away from the show.
The actor then embarked on a career in cheesemaking and launched a cheese business called Artisan Farm in 2009 before writing several recipe books.
Helen, who played his on-screen ex-wife Gail, quit her role this year after starring on the cobbles for 50 years (pictured 2019)
He briefly reprised his role in 2018 for a handful of episodes as part of David Platt’s male rape storyline, with a source telling the Daily Star at the time that producers “went out of their way” to lure him back.
Helen, who played his on-screen ex-wife Gail, left her role this year after starring on the cobbles for 50 years.
ITV has confirmed that filming will begin on her exit story and the “emotional” scenes will be on screen by the end of the year.