Coronation Street fans were first introduced to what we now know to be the Platt family nearly fifty years ago. Their time on the cobbles dates back to 1974, when Gail Tilsley, played by Helen Worth, first arrived on the ITV soap.
And, during their time in Weatherfield, the different family members have been part of some of the soap's biggest storylines. Viewers will remember everything from Sarah's teenage pregnancy and David's menacing ways to Gail's multiple marriages and almost being killed by Richard Hillman. Heartbreak has also hit the Platts, with Gail's eldest son, Nick, suffering a brain tumour.
But the actors who play the Platts have also led interesting lives off-screen too, reports the Daily Star. Some have remained veterans on the show, whereas others have pursued new careers.
Here, we take a brief look back at a number of members of the Platt family and the lives of those who play them away from the cobbles.
Audrey Roberts - Sue Nicholls
Coronation Street viewers have been familiar with soap favourite Sue Nicholls for over 40 years. Playing hair stylist and former Weatherfield mayoress Audrey Roberts, Nicholls made her debut on the street in 1979.
As the long-suffering mother of Gail and grandmother of David Platt, her character Audrey has been through her fair share of drama on the famous cobbles, including the tragic death of husband Alf Roberts. In the role, Nicholls has also won two British Soap Awards, as well as receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019.
But many might not be aware of the star's real-life background. Nicholls is the daughter Sir Harmar Nicholls, the former Conservative MP for Peterborough from 1950 to 1974, who also served as MEP for Greater Manchester South from 1979 to 1984.
Nicholls also appeared opposite her late husband Mark Eden on the cobbles in the 1980s, when he played Alan Bradley. However, his character was hit by a tram 1989, resulting in Mark leaving the soap.
The pair married in 1993. Mark was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and was hospitalised in November 2020 and sadly passed away on January 1, 2021.
Outside of Coronation Street, Sue has led a very interesting life too - starring in hit TV series including Rentaghost and The Rise And Fall Of Reginald Perin. In 1968, she also released a song called 'Where will you be?', which reached No 17 in the UK Music Charts.
Gail Platt - Helen Worth
Coronation Street matriarch Gail Platt remains a firm favourite for many fans of the soap, achieving her own cult following through the years, with her entertaining mannerisms becoming the source of viral memes. Played by Helen Worth, Gail has had many dramatic storylines, from six marriages to almost being killed by Richard Hillman.
Mother to Nick, Sarah and David in the soap, in 2014, Worth received the Outstanding Achievement Award at The British Soap Awards. ITV also honoured the long-serving actress with a documentary celebrating her 40 years on the serial drama with a one-off special titled Gail & Me that same year.
But the actress has also experienced tragedy in her own life. When worth was aged 20, her mother died after a hit and run accident. Helen has also had two high profile marriages.
Worth was married to Thomas The Tank Engine narrator Michael Angelis from 1991 to 2001. However, the pair later split after Helen discovered Michael had an affair.
In 2013, Worth married music teacher Trevor Dawson. More recently, the Coronation Street star was recognised for her services to drama.
Worth was awarded an MBE as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Fellow Corrie star Antony Cotton also received an MBE.
Martin Platt - Sean Wilson
Actor Sean Wilson played Martin Platt for two decades on the soap. Playing Gail's husband from 1985 to 2005, he was part of huge storylines - from his affair with nurse Rebecca Hopkins to relationship with teenager Katy Harris.
Martin headed with character Robyn to Liverpool for a fresh start in 2005, but returned in 2018 for a cameo on the cobbles. During his acting career, Wilson also appeared on the likes of Waterloo Road and Brookside.
But he has since taken up quite a different career in cheese making. The star set up the Saddleworth Cheese Company in 2009, whose products are stocked in supermarkets across the country, and now makes an award-winning blue called Smelly Ha’peth.
He has won a gold medal at the British Cheese Awards and was on the judging panel at the International Cheese Awards and The Global Cheese Awards. Many Mancunians will also spot him selling his cheese at Manchester Christmas Markets. And Sean announced in 2018 that he was returning to Reaseheath College to become a lecturer in cheese.
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In his personal life, Sean was married to his wife Gaynor. The pair had two children together but split in 2013.
Nick Tilsley - Ben Price
Nick Tilsley first arrived on the cobbles in 1981. Up until 1996 he was played by Warren Jackson, with Ben Price later taking over the part in 2009.
Playing Gail Platt’s eldest son, Nick has been caught up in some big storylines, from suffering a brain tumour to marrying Carla Connor for just a day. He is also known for his on and off relationship with Leanne Battersby.
Away from the cobbles, Price has also featured in Aussie soap Home and Away, Footballer's Wives, Casualty and The Tudors. He married wife Alexandra Wheeler in 2005, with whom he shares two children.
The couple are said to have met on the set of play On The Razzle. He also hosts a podcast called Sofa Cinema Club with his Corrie co-stars Jack P Shepherd and Colson Smith.
Over the years, the father-of-two has dipped into both theatre and production. He created his own company - Bolo Films - producing a short film titled I'm Sorry to Tell You, which was released in 2015.
After his first eight years on Coronation Street, Price left the show. But a year on, bosses secured his return to the set.
Sarah Barlow - Tina O' Brien
Tina O'Brien s best known for playing Sarah Barlow - nee Platt - on the soap. The character has been through a turbulent time on the cobbles, from a teenage pregnancy to the death of her boyfriend, nearly being murdered by her stepfather and her relationship with the Grimshaw brothers.
In the dramatic live episode of 2015, Sarah was also attacked by her then boyfriend Callum Logan. More recently, Sarah kicked husband Adam Barlow out after his ex Lydia lied about them having an affair.
After taking a break from the soap in 2008, O'Brien returned in 2015 to reprise her role as Sarah. Over the years, she has also appeared on our screens in Doctors, Call The Midwife and Waterloo Road.
In 2010, she was also a contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. In 2008, O'Brien and Corrie co-star Ryan Thomas welcomed a daughter called Scarlett.
The couple split up the following year. Along with daughter Scarlett, Tina also has a son called Beau with husband Adam Crofts.
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Tina's daughter is also taking after her mum for her acting talents. She is soon due to appear in the reboot of Waterloo Road, with mum Tina appearing in the original series in 2011.
David Platt - Jack P Shepherd
David Platt may have turned things around in recent years, but for most of his early years, he was the family's manipulative youngest child. Played by Jack P Shepherd since 2000, in the last two decades the character has been involved in massive storylines, from being driven into the canal by the evil Richard Hillman to the death of partner Kylie Platt.
But David remains a fan favourite, known for his dry-witted humour. Jack P Shepherd himself began his career in series Where The Heart Is.
Away from the cobbles, the actor has appeared on The Chase, Celebrity Juice, Tipping Point, All Star Family Fortunes and more. He has also won two Inside Soap Awards and two British Soap Awards for his role as David Platt.
More recently, Shepherd won Best Soap Actor at The TV Choice Awards in 2020. Like on-screen sister Tina O' Brien, his Corrie role has led to romance too, with Jack dating scriptwriter Hanni Treweek since 2017.
The star was previously with childhood sweetheart Lauren Shippey. Together they have two children together.
Jack has also revealed that he has suffered with the pressures of being in the public eye. He proudly showed off the results of his second hair transplant after admitting his receding hairline shattered his confidence.
Bethany Platt - Lucy Fallon
Bethany Platt first came onto our screen when teen mum Sarah gave birth to her at home. The Platt family helped Sarah raise the baby after dad Neil died in a car crash.
Now all grown up, Bethany, played by Lucy Fallon, has been at the centre of a hard-hitting storylines, such as the teen being groomed by character Nathan Curtis. Bethany returned in 2015, but has since left for a writing job in London following a romance with widower Daniel Osbourne.
But actress Lucy Fallon has said she is open to returning to the role in the future. The role of Bethany earned Fallon several accolades, including two British Soap Awards, an Inside Soap Award, and a National Television Award.
Fallon, originally from Blackpool, is also set to return to our screens in TV series Tom Jones, which is currently in production. In her personal life, Fallon is in a relationship with Preston North End footballer Ryan Ledson.
She went public with the midfielder in May of last year. The couple reportedly met through fellow Coronation Street favourite Helen Flanagan's footballer fiancé Scott Sinclair.
