Coronation Street star Helen Worth's life off-screen from real name to divorce from famous ex

Helen Worth has made the shock announcement today that she is set to leave Coronation Street. The actress, who has appeared on the soap for 50 years, will give up her role as Gail at the end of the year as bosses are planning a huge storyline for her exit.

Gail has faced her fair share of joy, drama, and near-death experiences, been married six times including once to serial killer Richard Hillman. But what about her life away from the cameras?

Here we look at her life away off-screen, from her real name to her love life and a devastating family tragedy.

Read more Corrie legend Helen Worth quits soap as bosses announce huge storyline

Helen, 73, grew in Morecambe, Lancashire. Helen Worth isn't her real name - she was born Cathryn Helen Wigglesworth but has never explained the reason for the change publicly.

Helen Worth's devastating family tragedy

Helen suffered a devastating loss when her mother was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident when she was 20 years old - before she ever made it on Corrie. The actress previously spoke the the Daily Star about how she was deeply affected by the loss when she got her role on the soap, saying: "The one person I really wanted to tell when I got the part of Gail was my mother.

"She would have been so thrilled. More excited than me. She'd been there all the way - at the dance classes, holding my hand before the competitions, putting on her best suit to take me to London for auditions. But when I finally made it, she wasn't there to share it with me. I'd never missed her more."

Helen Worth's

Helen has been married twice. Her first marriage broke down after her husband, the late Michael Angelis who is known for voicing Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, admitted to cheating on her.

Just a few years after tying the knot, he admitted to having an affair in 1995 after it was leaked to the press. Helen chose to forgive Michael, but they later divorced in 2001 after he had another affair with model Jennifer Khalastchi - who he went on to marry in the same year.

Speaking about her split from Michael, who died at the age of 76 in May 2020, at the time, Helen said: "Nothing can ever prepare you for the day your husband sits you down and tells you he is having an affair.

"My marriage was everything to me. It was the foundation on which everything else was built. I had been with Michael for nearly half of my life. I never imagined that we wouldn't grow old together."

Helen is now married to teacher Trevor Dawson. They married in 2012 in front of many of her Corrie co-stars.

Helen spoke about their relationship with her former co-star Nigel Havers on a segment on This Morning back in 2021. She said: "I met Trevor about 10 years ago and I just thank my lucky stars really. He's just gorgeous."

Trevor previously revealed how he had been wooed by Helen, sharing: "Cooking is Helen's department. I do the consuming. She's really good." Trevor, who is seven years younger than Helen, added: "We watch the show together. I had always been a fan going back some years.

"I used to watch it with my mum. Of course, Gail was my favourite," he told The Mirror in 2016.