Coronation Street fans might have noticed a different theme tune on Sunday’s (October 27) episode following Gail Platt’s cardiac arrest.
The classic theme tune, known by many, was changed to the sound of a flatlining heartbeat.
In scenes aired earlier this week, the long-serving cast member, played by Helen Worth, was taken to hospital after a heart attack.
As part of the storyline, the ITV soap opera partnered with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to raise awareness about heart disease.
"I think I’m having a heart attack."
— Coronation Street (@itvcorrie) October 23, 2024
For advice and support visit: https://t.co/W35MEI9xnr#Corrie pic.twitter.com/nS89IwSYt6
The popular soap opera also sent a powerful message to fans at the end of Sunday’s episode as the credits were interrupted by a message to highlight the charity’s research into prevention, diagnosis and treatment for heart and circulatory diseases.
The message was voiced by BHF ambassador and former Coronation Street actor Kimberly Hart-Simpson who played Nicky Wheatley in the soap.
Gail Platt suffers cardiac arrest ahead of Helen Worth’s Corrie exit
In Wednesday’s episode, Jesse Chadwick, played by John Thomson, spotted Gail breathing unsteadily and clutching her arm while searching for a bicycle pump before phoning an ambulance which took her to hospital.
Gail was in a panic and told paramedics: “I think I'm having a heart attack.”
It comes after Worth, 73, who has played Platt family matriarch Gail for 50 years, announced in June she would be leaving the ITV soap this year following a “major storyline for the Platt family”.
Most popular soap operas in the UK
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the BHF and consultant cardiologist, said: “A heart attack can happen on any street, even Coronation Street.
“We’re honoured to be a part of British television history by working with ITV and Coronation Street to deliver the incredibly important message that heart attacks happen to women too and that supporting the BHF to fund science could save lives.
Recommended reading:
- Coronation Street 'legend' Helen Worth to leave the ITV soap after 50 years
- Gail Platt's Coronation Street exit storyline 'revealed' by co-star
- Coronation Street fans demand to know where 'missing' star is amid upcoming exit
“We hope the unexpected sound of a heart monitor flatlining at the end of Sunday’s episode captured people’s attention and served as a reminder that Gail’s exit from the show could have ended very differently.”
Simon Daglish, deputy managing director of commercial at ITV, said: “Just as Gail’s heart momentarily stopped, we want to arrest the famous Coronation Street theme tune to showcase the incredible work of the British Heart Foundation.
“We’re very proud to be able to work with important charities and brands to help amplify their message in innovative and creative ways and help the BHF with their vital research.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here