With news of his mysterious dismissal having left Coronation Street fans stunned, it is worth noting that Sean Wilson had previously vowed never to return to the ITV soap.
Reports suggest the 59-year-old suddenly quit the show, forcing bosses to scrap the storyline of his character Martin Platt returning.
This comes just weeks after she announced her big return six years after her last appearance, with her now-shelved scenes set to air for the first time in October as part of Helen Worth’s exit storyline.
However, while 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.
With news of his mysterious sacking having left Coronation Street fans stunned, it is worth noting that Sean Wilson had previously vowed never to return to the ITV soap (pictured here in Coronation Street in 2005).
Reports suggest the 59-year-old suddenly quit the show, forcing bosses to scrap the storyline of his character Martin Platt’s (pictured in July) return.
He told the Daily Star At the time: ‘I will act again, but never in Coronation Street.
“They were very rude to me when I left. I would rather walk down any other street even if I had a nail in my shoe.”
The actor then embarked on a career in cheesemaking and launched a cheese business called Artisan Farm in 2009 before writing several recipe books.
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.
They said: “They should have gone out of their way to convince him. Most stars leave quietly, no matter how bitter they may feel about their departure. But Sean didn’t.”
“He didn’t mince words about why he left and how he would never return.”
However, in 2022 Sean insisted once again that he will never return to Coronation Street as a cast member after falling in love with his new career as a cheesemaker.
Referring to the underage girl’s storyline, Sean said soap bosses insisted her character embark on the storyline that would see Martin branded a “paedophile” in 2005, even though it made him feel “deeply uncomfortable”.
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 (pictured with Helen Worth)
At the time, she told the Daily Star: “I will act again, but never in Coronation Street. They were very rude to me when I left. I would rather walk down any other street, even if I had a nail in my shoe.”
He said The sun:’I didn’t want to do it and suggested they could bring in another actor, but the producer insisted.
‘It wasn’t for me, so I said, ‘No, I’m not going to do that story and I suggest that maybe you go and reconsider.’
They came back a couple of weeks later and said, ‘No, we think this story will go forward.’
As a result, Sean told bosses he was leaving the series and departed in 2005, although his character had a relationship with 16-year-old Katy Harris (played by Lucy-Jo Hudson) prior to his exit.
Sean said it was later announced that he had been fired, but he insisted that was not the case.
Elsewhere, just weeks before his latest return to Corrie, it emerged that Sean had criticised the soap for “trying to solve world problems” and ditching the fun storyline, blaming this for falling ratings.
He told the Daily Star In February: “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 the great acting really spoke to the nation. I don’t think that happens so much today…”
“People don’t have to see 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.”
The TV star added that fans preferred to see stories about adventures and fights between neighbours rather than being lectured.
Meanwhile, the whole story of Sean returning in 2024 has been scrapped and, according to The sunSean’s departure came as a big surprise, as the cast was unaware of the reason for his departure.
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.
However, in 2022, Sean once again insisted that he will never return to Coronation Street as a cast member after falling in love with his new career as a cheesemaker.
Sean first left in 2005 over his history with an underage girl, although his character had a relationship with 16-year-old Katy Harris (played by Lucy-Jo Hudson) before his exit (pictured)
A rep for the soap said the actor left “for personal reasons” and that none of Sean’s scenes will be aired, with Gail’s entire exit storyline being frantically rewritten by bosses.
Sean had returned to Corrie in July to film his first scenes, and had already recorded episodes with a host of the soap’s stars.
A source said: “It has come as a complete and utter shock to everyone, and his sudden exit has shocked everyone connected with Corrie. Sean was delighted with 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.”
Meanwhile, the whole story of Sean returning in 2024 has now been dropped and according to The Sun, Sean’s exit came as a huge surprise as the cast was unaware of the reason for his departure.
After all, Gail was set to have a happy ending, rekindling her romance with Martin and sailing off into the sunset, but her exit story is now being hastily rewritten.
In July, it was confirmed that Sean would reprise his role as Martin Platt, 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.
‘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.”
Sean played Martin for 20 years, from 1985 to 2005, before he and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 2018 and he made one final visit to Weatherfield before his departure to make amends with David, who was upset that his father was leaving the country.