Gail’s Dream
Overall, I don’t like dream sequences and the like in Coronation Street. Its trademark is that what you see on screen matches the external world of the story. They stray from that occasionally for dramatic purposes: sometimes it works, sometimes not. On Christmas Eve, also the eve of Gail’s wedding and departure, Gail has a dream. We see what she ‘sees’.

The drowned Richard Hillman in all his dripping wet glory. ”Hello Gail.” I hooted with delight!
Richard Hillman was Gail’s third husband. A successful and handsome businessman, he breezed into Weatherfield and swept Gail off her feet. Then he began murdering people. Thrice he was successful, twice not. After that, however, he had few options left other than killing himself. He did that by driving into the canal. In the car with him were Gail and her two younger children. They survived, he did not.
So every time David would get completely out of control, you might remember Richard Hillman. Not an excuse for everything David has done, but certainly a reason for why he’s so messed up. Gail’s subsequent marital history wasn’t great, but none of her next three husbands came close to the horror that was Richard Hillman.
Still, it’s wonderful to see him again! “Hello Gail” – it sends chills down your spine even 20-odd years later! Thank you, Brian Capron, for scaring us senseless again! You can read the story of Richard Hillman in Glenda Young’s book Norman Bates with a Briefcase – Gail’s description of him.

The next day’s episode started with Gail’s dream continuing. It got even better. “Blue Christmas” was playing on Gail’s radio, and Richard crooned along with it. Then a disco ball lit up the living room and he asked her to dance. While dancing, he gave a quick rundown on her children and their faults, and then his analysis of her. And what she needed, which was him. “Come back with me,” he asked, “Be the Ginger to my Fred.”

And Gail jolted awake, thank heavens.
A rover returns
Until Thursday’s Christmas Eve episode, I hadn’t been impressed in my short return to Coronation Street. People I don’t know and very few glimpses of those I do remember. Heavy drama, back-biting and intrigue – too much, way too much. Only Sally was a shining light of the Corrie I remember – as pretentious as ever, God bless her.
Then a switch got flipped and we entered full Christmas and Big Exit mode. All the long time characters were at the Rovers. Jenny behind the bar and Roy, Ken, Rita, Eileen on the other side of it. New photographs of street denizens from many decades on the bulletin board by the door, Gail now with them. Loads of photos and albums showing us glimpses of her 50 years on the street, and those who shared it with her. Just lovely.
Lovely too was the wedding. It did happen, amid a lot of drama of course. The Bistro looked beautiful, as did Gail. We got to see the video Max made of everyone saying their goodbyes and best wishes. Yes, I cried. And laughed. And remembered why I’d loved the show.

Dream teams?
I wish Sean Wilson could have come back as Martin Platt. Having Gail swan off with Martin Platt, as husband #2 and #7, would have been wonderful. But John Thomson, as Jesse Chadwick, does a very good job. Eileen’s ex, his marriage to Gail gives loads of material to those longstanding frenemies.
I wish too that these episodes could have been written by Daran Little. Former archivist and later writer, his specialty was the history of the Street. His episodes were wonderfully rich with backstory and humour. But Damon Alexis-Rochefort and Jan McVerry, long-time Corrie writers, both did a fabulous job of recollecting the past in these two episodes.
When videotaping Roy, Max said “this isn’t a historical documentary, Roy.” But, of course, it was and, like Max’s final product, it was an excellent one. So I join Roy in saying: “‘Hello, Gail and Jesse. Congratulations on your marriage. I wish you every happiness.’ Seems to cover everything.”

Thank you, Helen Worth, for giving us 50 years of Gail. Come back any time.