ITV Coronation Street's Alan Halsall shares 'surprise' over co-star exit and issues health update

Coronation Street star Alan Halsall has been quizzed on the exit of one of the show's most iconic cast members as he prepares to celebrate his own lengthy stint on the cobbles.

The actor was quizzed about the upcoming exit of Helen Worth as Gail Platt when he appeared on This Morning on Wednesday (August 7). Alan was on the programme to chat about the latest drama for Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap as his ex-Alina Pop returns to Weatherfield.

But This Morning host Josie Gibson took to opportunity to ask the soap star, who this year marks 26 years in the cast, about Helen's exit after she announced she'd be leaving Corrie after 50 years by the end of this year. 

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Speaking about her exit, he said: "It came as a surprise to a lot of us. I know she said it to the people that are part of her family but it came as a surprise to a lot of us. Helen is one of the top three legends - like Bill Roache, Barbara Knox and Helen. They're the matriarch and patriarchs of Coronation Street."

Alan added: "To lose somebody like that - and for the show to lose someone like Gail, who has had some incredible stories over the year with her husbands, it will be a real loss for the show."

Meanwhile, Alan was also asked to give a health update after he underwent surgery last year. The soap star revealed on social media that he was having surgery in November by sharing a picture of himself after going under the knife to fix an ACL injury.

The ACL is one of two ligaments that cross in the middle of the knee, connecting your thighbone to your shinbone and helping stabilize your knee joint. In the