Coronation Street icon signs up for another year with ITV soap 26 years after first episode

Coronation Street has secured one of its long-serving stars for another year, with "big things" reportedly planned in 2026 for Tina O'Brien (who plays Sarah Platt).

O'Brien debuted in the role in 1999, taking over from child actor Lynsay King, and had a number of high profile storylines during her first stint on the soap, which ended in 2008.

She returned seven years later and has remained a key player ever since, with recent episodes focusing on her tumultuous relationship with police detective Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) among other subplots.

Daughter to Gail (Helen Worth) and sister to David (Jack P Shepherd), Sarah Platt is deeply embedded in Coronation Street history, so the report of her contract's renewal by The Sun won't come as a great surprise to viewers.

"Tina had a very difficult 2025 so bosses wanted to reassure her that there was nothing to worry about where her job was concerned," an unnamed source told the tabloid, referring to the death of O'Brien's father in November.

"She put pen to paper just before the Christmas break. Obviously there have been lot of changes over the last few months and the last thing they wanted was for her to worry about her role on Corrie."

Those changes include cast exits and a schedule shake-up to be implemented this month, which will see Emmerdale and Coronation Street brought together in an ITV 'power hour' to begin with a special Corriedale crossover.

O'Brien is named in the Corriedale cast list, with the episode set to feature a nightmarish car crash, with Kit and Carla (Alison King) amongst those on the scene of the disaster.

The source concluded: "[O'Brien] is very much adored on set and her character has got some big things coming up this year."

Coronation Street will air weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 throughout 2026. Stream on ITVX.

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