Coronation Street fans left divided as Gail Platt leaves show after 50 years

Coronation Street fans have been left divided after Gail Platt made an emotional exit from the ITV soap after 50 years.

The Weatherfield icon - played by actress Helen Worth - has swapped the cobbles for a new life in France with her new husband, Jesse Chadwick.

Her final episode aired this evening and ended with Gail disappearing into the sunset, leaving her family behind. As the newlyweds drove off to begin their new chapter, Jesse asked Gail: "Are you ready Mrs Chadwick?"

She replied: "Ready as I'll ever be, Mr Chadwick."

In a moving scene with daughter Sarah earlier in the episode, Gail told her: “I know you’re the backbone. I know there’s lots you don’t tell me because you want to protect me.

"Don’t feel you have to carry them just because you’re the only daughter. Look after yourself. Choose happiness. You know you’ve alway been my favourite.”

Shortly before tying the knot, Gail also reunited with her mother, Audrey, who urged her to go and live her new life.

“If anyone deserves that villa sweetheart, it’s you,” Audrey told her.

Following tonight's hour-long episode, Corrie fans have been sharing their reactions on X - formerly Twitter.

@lewispringle wrote: "Farewell Gail. After 50 years of heartache, laughter, awful family members and canals, she finally gets her happy ever after.

"Helen Worth is a legend, and she deserves the world. Thank you for everything."

@DanJBrownMUFC said: "A great send off to Gail, she has been part of the fabric of this show for all the time I’ve watched it.

"From her rendition of ‘Firework’ to one of the most powerful moments I’ve seen in a soap her monologue giving us so many memories. Thank you Helen Worth."

@LanaKlaineSWEN added: "Goodbye Gail you will be missed, Helen worth