Martin Platt
Encyclopedia
Martin Platt is a fictional character
from the British ITV
soap opera, Coronation Street
, portrayed by Sean Wilson.
s and was studying at Salford Technical College.
(Helen Worth
). To everyone's surprise, the two fall for each other and in 1990, the couple have a child. Gail does not think it is fair for Martin to have a child at his age, and is about to have an abortion
when Martin stops her. They get married
in 1991, and the child is named David
(Thomas Ormson
). Martin helps raise Gail's two older children, Sarah-Louise (Lyndsay King) and Nick
(Warren Jackson) from her marriage to Brian. He develops a father-daughter relationship with Sarah but Nick does not like him and refuses to listen to Martin.
In the mid-1990s, Martin becomes friendly with fellow nurse, Carmel Finnan (Catherine Cusack
). Carmel makes Gail believe she is having an affair with Martin and is pregnant by him, but this is not true. The problem is solved by Carmel's father from Ireland coming to take her home. Martin later sleeps with nurse Cathy Power (Theresa Brindley) after a New Year's party. Martin confesses, and Gail does not speak to him for months. They are reconciled after Martin passes his nursing exam. In 1999, Martin has another affair with Rebecca Hopkins (Jill Halfpenny
), confessing to Gail only after Rebecca has left him. After an unsuccessful attempt to patch up the marriage, Martin goes to live in a nearby flat. Gail divorces him and later marries Richard Hillman
(Brian Capron
).
). Tommy, who had previously been Martin's friend, is outraged when he finds out about their relationship, and attacks Martin physically, whilst Katy's brother, Craig (Richard Fleeshman
), attempts to kill Martin by interfering with the brakes on his car. Katy's parents are even more unhappy when she leaves school and gets pregnant. Sally Webster
(Sally Dynevor), one of Martin's ex-girlfriends, is having an affair with work colleague Ian Davenport (Philip Bretherton
), and her friendship with Martin, who is working particularly late hours, making Tommy and Angela Harris (Kathryn Hunt
) believe they are having an affair. They tell Katy, who moves out of Martin's flat and has an abortion. When Gail tells them the truth, Katy is devastated. She confronts Tommy in a rage, and attacks him with a wrench, killing him. Because of the bad blood between Martin and Tommy, Martin is at first arrested for the murder. Even though Angela only witnesses the murder of Tommy, she confesses to doing it. Martin is released, and Angela arrested. Katy is hysterical, and as a diabetic, decides to commit suicide by forgoing her insulin injections and eating sugar. Martin, Sarah (now played by Tina O'Brien
) and Sarah's then boyfriend Scooter (Sushil Chudasama) manage to get her to hospital, but she later dies.
Before he leaves Coronation Street to move to Liverpool
with new girlfriend Robyn (Claire Calbraith). Martin remains close to Gail, even after the divorce, and often comes round to have tea with Gail, Sarah, David (now played by Jack P. Shepherd
), and Sarah's daughter Bethany (Amy and Emily Walton). David is devastated when he hears that Martin is leaving and does not talk to Martin for a while; however, the two of them reconcile just before Martin leaves.
(Ryan Thomas
), Martin telephones Sarah to say he is unable to come to the wedding as his daughter Caitlin is ill. Martin is mentioned in 2009 when David goes to stay for a period of time with him and Robyn after falling out with Gail and her new lover Joe McIntyre
(Reece Dinsdale
).
Martin was mentioned again on 28 March 2011 during an argument between David and Gail over David's upcoming wedding to Kylie Turner
(Paula Lane
). Gail argued that she had married all her husbands because she loved them, including Martin. Gail also tells David that although she and Martin split up, they had had some good years togeher. In April 2011, Martin does not attend David and Kylie's wedding. His absence was not explained onscreen. The following month, after David expresses a desire to help Kylie regain custody of her son Max, Gail asks David if he is willing to bring up another man's son and David reminds her that Martin brought up Nick and Sarah as his own children whilst they were married, to prove his point.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the British ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, portrayed by Sean Wilson.
Departure
Actor Sean Wilson was axed from Coronation Street when a major storyline conference decided the character of Martin had been "played out". At the time, it was said that "Sean can’t believe he’s just been dropped like a dead weight after 20 years. It came like a bolt out of the blue." However, the actor later reflected that the producers had "done him a favour by axing his character", and Wilson has since said that if he were to return to the soap, the producers would have to be "very persuasive".Backstory
Teenager Martin Platt is first seen in 1985 as a school-leaver working in Jim's Cafe. He had two GCEGeneral Certificate of Education
The General Certificate of Education or GCE is an academic qualification that examination boards in the United Kingdom and a few of the Commonwealth countries, notably Sri Lanka, confer to students. The GCE traditionally comprised two levels: the Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level...
s and was studying at Salford Technical College.
1989–2002
In 1989, Brian Tilsley (Chris Quinten) is murdered and Martin begins comforting his widow and former colleague from the cafe, GailGail Platt
Gail McIntyre is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Helen Worth, the character first appeared on screen on 12 July 1974...
(Helen Worth
Helen Worth
Helen Worth is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of the Coronation Street character Gail McIntyre- Early life :...
). To everyone's surprise, the two fall for each other and in 1990, the couple have a child. Gail does not think it is fair for Martin to have a child at his age, and is about to have an abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
when Martin stops her. They get married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
in 1991, and the child is named David
David Platt (Coronation Street)
David Daniel Platt is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 26 December 1990 and is portrayed by actor Jack P...
(Thomas Ormson
Thomas Ormson
Thomas Ormson is a young English actor who played David Platt on Coronation Street from 1990 to 2000. He acted along with Sean Wilson, Helen Worth, Lynsay King, Emma Collinge and Adam Rickitt.In 2000 Jack P. Shepherd took over the role....
). Martin helps raise Gail's two older children, Sarah-Louise (Lyndsay King) and Nick
Nick Tilsley
Nicholas Paul "Nick" Tilsley is a fictional character in the British soap opera Coronation Street. Originally known as "Nicky", he was the first-born child of Brian Tilsley and Gail Platt , and has been portrayed by three different actors. Warren Jackson from 1981 to 1996, then by Adam Rickitt...
(Warren Jackson) from her marriage to Brian. He develops a father-daughter relationship with Sarah but Nick does not like him and refuses to listen to Martin.
In the mid-1990s, Martin becomes friendly with fellow nurse, Carmel Finnan (Catherine Cusack
Catherine Cusack
Catherine Cusack is a British actress. She is the half-sister of the actresses Sinéad Cusack, Sorcha Cusack and Niamh Cusack, and the fourth daughter of the actor Cyril Cusack and his second wife Mary Rose Cunningham's only child...
). Carmel makes Gail believe she is having an affair with Martin and is pregnant by him, but this is not true. The problem is solved by Carmel's father from Ireland coming to take her home. Martin later sleeps with nurse Cathy Power (Theresa Brindley) after a New Year's party. Martin confesses, and Gail does not speak to him for months. They are reconciled after Martin passes his nursing exam. In 1999, Martin has another affair with Rebecca Hopkins (Jill Halfpenny
Jill Halfpenny
Jill Halfpenny is an English actress.Halfpenny is best known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1999–2000, and as Kate Mitchell in rival soap EastEnders, from 2002-2005...
), confessing to Gail only after Rebecca has left him. After an unsuccessful attempt to patch up the marriage, Martin goes to live in a nearby flat. Gail divorces him and later marries Richard Hillman
Richard Hillman
Richard Charles Hillman was a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street, played by Brian Capron. Hillman is now rated as one of the best soap villains of all time.-Development:...
(Brian Capron
Brian Capron
Brian Capron, born 11 February 1947 at Eye in Suffolk, is a British actor, who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . His father was an Algerian pilot, of French descent, who died in a plane crash before Brian was born....
).
2003–2005
After Richard commits two murders and tries to kill Gail and the children by driving his car into the canal, Martin and Tommy Harris (Thomas Craig) jump into the canal and swim down to the sunken car and rescue Gail, and the children. Martin falls in love with Tommy's sixteen-year-old daughter Katy (Lucy-Jo HudsonLucy-Jo Hudson
Lucy-Jo Hudson is a British actress, best known for playing the role of Katy Harris in the long-running soap opera, Coronation Street from 2002–05, and as Rosie Trevanion in the ITV drama Wild at Heart from 2006–09....
). Tommy, who had previously been Martin's friend, is outraged when he finds out about their relationship, and attacks Martin physically, whilst Katy's brother, Craig (Richard Fleeshman
Richard Fleeshman
Richard Jonathan Fleeshman is an English actor and singer-songwriter. His television career began as a twelve year old, playing Craig Harris for four years in Coronation Street and most recently "All The Small Things"...
), attempts to kill Martin by interfering with the brakes on his car. Katy's parents are even more unhappy when she leaves school and gets pregnant. Sally Webster
Sally Webster
Sally Webster is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Sally Dynevor, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 January 1986.-Casting:...
(Sally Dynevor), one of Martin's ex-girlfriends, is having an affair with work colleague Ian Davenport (Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton is an English actor best known for his role as Alistair Deacon in the British television series As Time Goes By....
), and her friendship with Martin, who is working particularly late hours, making Tommy and Angela Harris (Kathryn Hunt
Kathryn Hunt
Kathryn Hunt is a British actress best known for her roles as Angela Harris in Coronation Street and Val Lorrimer in Series 1-2 of Fat Friends. She also appeared in Waterloo Road and The Royal....
) believe they are having an affair. They tell Katy, who moves out of Martin's flat and has an abortion. When Gail tells them the truth, Katy is devastated. She confronts Tommy in a rage, and attacks him with a wrench, killing him. Because of the bad blood between Martin and Tommy, Martin is at first arrested for the murder. Even though Angela only witnesses the murder of Tommy, she confesses to doing it. Martin is released, and Angela arrested. Katy is hysterical, and as a diabetic, decides to commit suicide by forgoing her insulin injections and eating sugar. Martin, Sarah (now played by Tina O'Brien
Tina O'Brien
Tina O'Brien is an English actress. She is best known for playing the role of Sarah-Louise Platt in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.-Acting career:...
) and Sarah's then boyfriend Scooter (Sushil Chudasama) manage to get her to hospital, but she later dies.
Before he leaves Coronation Street to move to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
with new girlfriend Robyn (Claire Calbraith). Martin remains close to Gail, even after the divorce, and often comes round to have tea with Gail, Sarah, David (now played by Jack P. Shepherd
Jack P. Shepherd
Jack Peter Shepherd is an English actor. He plays David Platt in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street. He joined the show in April 2000, taking over the role from Thomas Ormson.Shepherd was born in Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire....
), and Sarah's daughter Bethany (Amy and Emily Walton). David is devastated when he hears that Martin is leaving and does not talk to Martin for a while; however, the two of them reconcile just before Martin leaves.
Off-Screen: 2005–
In January 2006, David reports that Martin is expecting a baby with new partner Robyn. In October 2007, during the week of Sarah's planned wedding to Jason GrimshawJason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ryan Thomas, the character first appeared during the episode airing on 25 December 2000, when he comes looking for mother Eileen at the Battersbys' home.Jason is very much the...
(Ryan Thomas
Ryan Thomas
Ryan James Thomas and is an English actor who is currently starring as the character, Jason Grimshaw on ITV's Coronation Street.-Career:...
), Martin telephones Sarah to say he is unable to come to the wedding as his daughter Caitlin is ill. Martin is mentioned in 2009 when David goes to stay for a period of time with him and Robyn after falling out with Gail and her new lover Joe McIntyre
Joe McIntyre (Coronation Street)
Joseph "Joe" McIntyre was a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character was portrayed by actor Reece Dinsdale. Joe was introduced as the father of Tina McIntyre, and made his first appearing onscreen during the episode that aired in the UK on May 26, 2008...
(Reece Dinsdale
Reece Dinsdale
Reece Dinsdale is an English actor of stage, screen and television.-Acting career:He trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 1977 until 1980...
).
Martin was mentioned again on 28 March 2011 during an argument between David and Gail over David's upcoming wedding to Kylie Turner
Kylie Turner
Kylie was initially described as having a "full on" personality, similar to Becky. She was also labelled a "firecracker". Lane described her as a "messed up girl, dragged up by an alcoholic mother". In her life she had to "fight for survival". Lane has also expressed her admiration of Kylie's...
(Paula Lane
Paula Lane
Paula Lane is an English actress, perhaps best known for her work as Kylie Turner in Coronation Street. In 2010 Lane was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2011 National Television Awards . She has also gained other nominations for her portrayal of Kylie.-Career:Lane made her professional debut in...
). Gail argued that she had married all her husbands because she loved them, including Martin. Gail also tells David that although she and Martin split up, they had had some good years togeher. In April 2011, Martin does not attend David and Kylie's wedding. His absence was not explained onscreen. The following month, after David expresses a desire to help Kylie regain custody of her son Max, Gail asks David if he is willing to bring up another man's son and David reminds her that Martin brought up Nick and Sarah as his own children whilst they were married, to prove his point.