The upcoming Coronation Street episodes hint at a full-blown Platt family scene just before Gail’s exit – and it couldn’t have happened without David, aka Jack P. Shepherd. Now, Jack has revealed exactly what role he has played in changing her exit, and we couldn’t be happier about this. We will probably be forever indebted to Jack for this!
All Platts Will Be Back
Jack P. Shepherd, who plays Gail’s son, David, went to the bosses, requesting they write an extra scene featuring the full Platt family Gail has ever worked with. As the scenes were always shot chronologically, there was no chance of everyone coming together. However, as a tribute to Helen’s last day, he wanted everyone present on the set and urged the producers to change their decision.
He said, “We had a little do on her last scene. Originally, her last scene filming was a scene with me and Julia [Goulding, who plays Shona] in the Platts. I went: ‘No, no, her last scene has to be just all of us. Like, we all just have to be in the Platt house. They said: ‘There isn’t one. There isn’t one where you’re all together.
I went: ‘Well f***ing write it! You know, you can’. So they went: ‘Yeah, we can’. So they did – they wrote one. I said: ‘We don’t have to be doing anything. We can all be non-speaking. Just make sure we’re all together in the Platt house. For God’s sake, please. For when she finally goes, don’t just have someone random with her or whatever.” And finally, the writers and makers agreed to make the change!
Jack Recalls the Shoot Day
Jack recalled, “There were about four or five hundred people in the studio that day, and they basically all came down. Lee, the first AD, came up to me and said: ‘What do you want to do? Because I’ve got every unit saying that they want a break, and they all want to come in and say goodbye. But if I ask her, she’ll say no, so what should we do? I said: ‘Just do it! She’ll cry. She’ll be emotional. But that’s the thing. You’re meant to be. That’s the thing after 50 years!’
Helen wanted to go quietly – she wanted to go out the back door. She didn’t want to create a fuss for people. But I said: ‘It’s not so much for you. It is not you doing the fanfare and the big farewell. It’s for the building. It’s for everyone. It was really nice, and we had a party at Nick’s Bistro. We had a few drinks, which was lovely, and they did a really nice montage.” That’s the bond of Corrie we all love, and the whole Platt family coming together is like a surprise we never even dreamed of! Now, it is just a few days away! To always stay updated with every Coronation Street news, stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily.
