When Coronation Street's Gail Platt opened Watford MFI

Helen Worth, more popularly known as Gail Platt from Coronation Street, briefly swapped Weatherfield for Watford in November 1989 to officially open the new branch of popular kitchen and bedroom furniture retailer MFI.

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A Watford Observer photographer was present to capture the relaxed-looking actor cut the ribbon before signing autographs and enjoying a pretend cuppa with customers and fans of the soap.

The soap star declares the shop officially open (Image: Watford Observer)

The 73-year-old, who is set to leave the iconic cobbled streets later this year after 50 years on the ITV show, was not the first popular face from Corrie to visit a branch of MFI in the town.

Helen joined the Coronation Street cast in 1974 (Image: Watford Observer)

Six years earlier, the late Johnny Briggs – who played Mike Baldwin – visited the furniture store when it was in Aldenham Road.

Anyone for a cuppa? (Image: Watford Observer)

A jazz band playing at the opening of the new store (Image: Watford Observer)