Coronation Street star Sean Wilson pictured for first time since mystery exit from show
Coronation Street star Sean Wilson was spotted keeping a low profile as he was pictured for first time since his mystery last-minute exit from the show.
The actor, who played Gail’s second husband Martin Platt in the ITV soap, was expected to return for the episodes leading up to the departure of actress Helen Worth but it was then revealed he would no longer be returning to the cobbles as previously planned.
Martin, who was previously married to Helen's character Gail, has now been seen in Media City with his long term girlfriend Carol Hammond this week, just a few hundred yards from the Coronation Street studios in Salford, Greater Manchester.
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The actor and cheesemaker, who last appeared in the soap in 2018 and was going to be part of Gail’s final storyline, but now he is no longer appearing, was reportedly just a stone's throw from the Corrie set in Quay Street, marking the first time he's been spotted since his shock Corrie U-turn a surprising one.
The 59 year old could be seen keeping a low profile as he sported a trilby hat and yellow sunglasses alongside Carol, who was rocking a statement zebra print coat.
It comes after Sean, who's expected return to the soap was cancelled without explanation, spoke out for the first time since the ordeal just last week.
The actor best known for playing Martin on the show, took to X, formerly Twitter, and posted a photo of an illuminated ‘Love’ sign, and captioned it with the words: “Thanks for all the love xxx.”
Sean, who played Martin between 1985 and 2005, with a brief return in 2018, was due to come back to the cobbles and had reportedly filmed scenes that tied in with the departure of his character’s ex-wife Gail Platt, as played by Helen Worth, who is retiring after 50 years.
However, last month it was announced that Sean had stepped away from the show for “personal reasons” and his scenes would not be broadcast.
On 16 August, following Sean’s departure from the soap, a source told The Sun : “It has come as a complete and utter shock to everyone - and his sudden exit has rocked everyone involved with Corrie. Sean was loving his time on the show, and he was very popular on set.”
Sean originally joined the soap in 1985, when he was 20 years old. His character Martin was first seen as a school leaver working in Jim’s Cafe, and studying at Salford Technical College.
He grew close to Gail following the murder of her first husband, Brian Tilsley and the pair began an affair, with Gail falling pregnant in 1990 and their son David being born on Christmas Day that year.
While Martin and Gail’s marriage is considered by fans to be her most successful, their union came to an end after Martin cheated on Gail. The couple divorced, but Martin was there to save Gail when Richard tried to kill her.
He left the cobbles in 2005 for a new life in Liverpool but returned briefly in 2018 before moving to New Zealand. It was expected that Martin would return to Weatherfield for Gail’s exit, and a possible happy ending between the pair, but that is now not the case.
Back in July, the actor returned to filming as he reprised the role. The return came six years after he last appeared on the famous cobbles but then a spokesperson for the soap told The Mirror : "Sean Wilson has stepped down from filming for personal reasons."
In real life, Sean Wilson became a chef after leaving Coronation Street and is also an accomplished cheese maker with his own business, the Saddleworth Cheese Company.
After exiting Corrie, he also appeared in a number of other TV dramas, such as Waterloo Road and Casualty, but ultimately decided to pursue a career as a chef and cheesemaker.
Sean has enjoyed huge success in the culinary industry, with his third book, Jazz Food, having been released in November. The Great Northern Cookbook was released in 2013, and Cheddar Gorged landed on shelves in 2022.