A Coronation Street actor tragically passed away just months after their first appearance on the cobbles.
Sarah Platt’s character first emerged in February 1987 when she was born on-screen to mother Gail Platt (Helen Worth) and father Brian Tilsley (Christopher Quinten).
Throughout the years, Sarah has featured in some of the ITV soap’s most memorable storylines, including becoming a mother to Bethany at just 13 years old and being abducted alongside her family by her disturbed stepfather Richard Hillman (Brian Capron).
While Tina O’Brien is widely recognised for portraying Sarah, she wasn’t the original actor in the role. The character was initially played by newborn twins Leah and Lynsay King.
The twins were selected for the part of Sarah Platt after being born two months early. According to reports, the programme typically prefers using identical twins for newborn characters, making Leah and Lynsay an ideal choice, reports the Mirror.
Sadly, in May 1987, Leah passed away from cot death at only six months old. Members of the Coronation Street cast, including Helen Worth, who portrays Gail Platt, attended Leah’s funeral service at Butler Street Methodist Church in Manchester.
Following Leah’s devastating death, Lynsay carried on playing Sarah until 1999 when she left before turning 13. Tina O’Brien subsequently assumed the role aged 16.
Lynsay has revealed that she was unfortunately subjected to bullying at school due to her fame from Coronation Street. She previously shared with the Mirror in 2004: “It was horrible. Today I feel sad that I let bullies drive me out but at primary school no one would let me join in any of their games.”
She confessed that she now regrets her decision to leave the soap, saying: “At the time I was relieved to leave, but now I watch and think ‘Why did I get out of it?’ And I do regret it. When I watch Tina O’Brien playing Sarah it feels weird. I don’t resent her, but it does upset me because I’d love to act again.”
In 2004, Lynsay made a poignant return to Weatherfield alongside other child stars to film a documentary, The Kids From Coronation Street.
During her visit, she encountered Tina in the toilets – marking the first time the two girls had met. Reflecting on their meeting, Lynsay said: “I’m not sure whether she knew who I was, but neither of us said anything. It just didn’t seem right to say, ‘Oh hi! You’re the person who took over my role’.”
As for Tina, she first stepped onto the cobbles back in 1999 and portrayed the character of Sarah Platt until 2007. She reprised her role in 2015 and has been a fixture on the Street ever since, although her original contract wasn’t that lengthy.
When asked in 2021 how she feels about having been on the soap for such a long period, Tina told The Mirror: “Oh wow, if I knew then what I knew now, I would have been over the moon.
“I think I got a three month contract to begin with and I was just hoping to get through the first three months here and hopefully stay.”