When you think of Gail Platt, you don't think of a very exciting character, but after a closer examination into her life in Weatherfield you soon begin to realise that she has had quite an eventful time.

Gail Platt is one of the few characters in Coronation Street's history who has been allowed to grow from a giddy teenager to a mature adult.During the 80s and 90s Gail was a struggling mother with an independent business streak. Gail first came on to the Street and lived above the Corner Shop. She managed to hold on to her virginityuntil 1976 when she slept with sales rep Ray Thornley. She fell in love with him until she was named as the co-respondent in his divorce case. Gail now became more mature and less naive.

Three years later Gail started going out with mechanic Brian Tilsley. Ray Thornely's name reared its ugly head again when Brian's mother Ivy told Brian about Gail's relationship with Thornley in an attempt to destroy Brian and Gail's relationship. Ivy's plan backfired when Brain attacked his mother for bringing up the past.In November 1979 Gail and Brian married after Gail became a Catholic.

When the happy couple returned from their honeymoon in the Isle of Man, they faced problems. They were living with Brian's parentsand Gail and Ivy constantly argued over who should cook Brian's dinner. Things became even more uncomfortable at No. 5 Coronation Street when Gail discovered she was pregnant. She had to threaten to leave Brian before he agreed to move into a one bedroom apartment just before their son Nick was born. Gail gave up work to look after her son.

The couple were dogged by financial problems. They had taken out a huge mortgage and only had Brian's income to pay it. As a result Brian took a second job working in a petrol station. This put a strain on the marriage. Things got worse when Brian took a 6 month contract in Qatar. Gail felt bored at home and returned to her job at Jim's Cafe. When Brian returned they sold their home so Brian could build up his garage and moved back in with Ivy. Gail soon became fed up with Brian's lack of interest in finding their own home that she and Nicky moved into a bedsit. After Ivy told Brian to patch things up, Gail and Brian moved into a council house but there was still alot of bitterness.

When Brian's Australian cousin Ian Latimer visited Gail found herself deeply attracted to him and it wasn't long before they had slept together. When Audrey confronted Gail about the affair she didn't try to deny it. When Ian left Gail found herself pregnant. Audrey told her to let Brian think that the child was his but Gail felt he deserved to know the truth and told him about the affir. She was amazed when Brian forgave her but was shocked when Brian told her to have an abortion. Gail refused and was dragged through a bitter and messy divorce which included a fight for the custody of Nicky.

When Sarah Louise was born in 1987 a blood test revealed that Latimer was not the father.Brian proposed to re-marry and Gail agreed. She didn't love him anymore but decided to do it for the children's sake. However they were now leading seperate lives. Gail was working more and more in Jim's Cafe while Brian was having fun with his various girlfriends. Gail asked for another divorce but Brian refused not wanting to lose Nicky again. That night they had their most violent row and after Brian stormed out he was stabbed outside a nightclub.

Four months after Brian's death, Gail found herself leaning on the support of Martin Platt, her assitant at the acfe and ten years younger than her. He looked after Nicky and it wasn't long before they were involved in an affair. Soon afterwards Martin moved in with Gail and he looked after the children while she went out to work. When Gail found out that she was pregnant again she planned an abortion wothout telling Martin. Martin begged her not to and David was born on Christmas Day 1990. Gail refused Martin's first proposal but eventually agreed and they married in the summer of 1991.

Martin trained to be a nurse and during this time he befriended Irish nurse Carmel Finnan and asked her to babysit his family while he and Gail went out. Little did Martin know that Carmel was madly in love with Martin. When she amde a pass at Martin, he threw her out but before she left Carmel reminded Martin of the fact that Gail was ten years older than him. Gail snapped when Carmel announced that she was pregnant and tried to kidnap David. She confronted Carmel at her bedsit and in the violent struggle that followed she pushed Carmel down the stairs. Carmel asked the police to charge Gail with assault but before that happened Carmel's grandfather arrived and told everyone that she was mentally ill and took her back to Ireland.

Gail was shocked in 1997 when she discovered that her son Nick had married Leanne in Edinburgh. She despised Leanne and felt that she was not good enough for her beloved son. Gail was pleased when the marriage broke down but wasn't happy to learn that Leanne had received £2,000 from her divorce settlement. She blew the whole lot in a casino.

Gail and Martin's relationship went through a sticky in 1999 when Gail demanded that Martin have a vasectomy after having a pregnancy scare. This turned relations sour in the Platt household. Martin soon found comfort in his colleague Rebecca Hopkins. Gail had to deal with the shock that her 13 year old daughter Sarah Lousie was pregnant. She managed to come to terms with the situation but nothing could have prepared her for Martin's confession that he was in love with Rebecca. Rather surprisingly she forgave Martin and at present is trying to rebuild her marraige with Martin but that won't be easy.

David's personal opinion of Gail: Nobody can deny that Gail Platt has had an eventful time in Weatherfield. She has come through some tough times and is currently experiencing difficulties with Martin. She has been an integral part of the show. At times she has annoyed me with her objection to Nick and Leanne. I found that a bit hypocritical because she was treated badly herself by Ivy. However I feel very sorry for her and am on her side with regards to Martin. I also think it has taken alot of guts for her to stick with Martin for the sake of the children even though she despises him. I hope Gail gets the upper hand over Martin sometime in the future. Well done to Helen Worth who has played her well for many years. It was the storyline surrounding Carmel Finnan which got me hooked on the show! By the way I hope you all don't think that us Irish people are like Carmel because we're not!