EXCLUSIVE: Sean Wilson breaks cover after sudden Coronation Street exit as he pops up in surprising place
Coronation Street legend Sean Wilson, who plays Martin Platt, has been spotted just yards away from the set of the ITV soap after his shock early exit
Life has to Corrie on for Sean Wilson – even without a return to his favourite soap.
And actor and cheesemaker Sean was spotted in Media City with long term girlfriend Carol Hammond this week, just a few hundred yards from the Coronation Street studios in Salford, Greater Manchester.
Sean was set to return to the soap as Martin Platt as part of the exit storyline for co star Helen Worth but later stepped down citing “personal reasons”. No further details have been released. Sean played the character of Martin for 20 years from 1985 to 2005.
The 59-year-old last appeared on the cobbles six years ago and was set to reappear on screen in October as part of the departure of Gail’s character after 50 years on the ITV soap. An initial announcement said Wilson was to start filming scenes on July 24, with a storyline featuring his on-screen son David (Jack P Shepherd) shocked to find his father at the house and immediately suspicious about his return to their lives.
Sean with with long term girlfriend Carol (
/ SplashNews.com)
Sean looked pensive on his walk (
/ SplashNews.com)
Sean said in a statement: “It was great to be invited back to [‘Coronation Street’] again, to contribute to Helen’s exit story. We’ll have a few months to catch up with Martin and Gail again, following the ebbs and flows of the unfolding storyline. Playing Martin has been a joy since day one and in a way, I’ll be slipping back to where I left off, which no doubt will throw a spanner into the heart of the Platt family. It’s just like slipping on an old and comfortable jumper from the back of the wardrobe … I’m looking forward to reuniting with my TV family.”
But the brakes were suddenly put on his on-screen reunion with Gail in August. Wilson last appeared in the soap in 2018 when Martin and his family emigrated to New Zealand. He paid one final visit to Weatherfield before his departure to make his peace with David, who was upset that his father was leaving the country.
It was later reported he was pulled into a meeting with ITV bosses and told he was no longer needed, with one other source suggesting he may have “got cold feet” about the part, but no official comment made from ITV or Sean. Since then, it was reported that John Thomson would replace Wilson’s in the storyline. In the meantime Sean continues with his life, living close by to the Corrie cobbles.