Coronation Street actor Jack P Shepherd has predicted that it will fall to his character David's sister Sarah (Tina O'Brien) to head up the family after matriarch Gail (Helen Worth) leaves the cobbles.

After more than 50 years in the role, Worth is exiting the soap this Christmas in a storyline that will see Gail depart Weatherfield and leave behind her mum Audrey (Sue Nicholls), kids Nick (Ben Price), Sarah and David, as well as multiple grandchildren.

In recent years David has matured significantly and now represents a relatively stable figure for the Platts, but Shepherd doubts that David will seamlessly take on Gail's mantle.

"I don't think he'll become the glue," he said. "I think if anyone that's going to have to be Sarah. It will be the middle child's responsibility, as it is in every family.

"I think Nick will have his own thing, and he'll bob in, bob out whenever needed. But ultimately, he's got the bistro. He's got loads of problems with Leanne and Toyah. So he'll have his own world to worry about."

He continued: "The thing is for David there is a lot more stuff going on than his mum meeting a new man and talking about leaving Weatherfield and that is all about to start unravelling. He and Shona are about to be tested and of course he has the secret about Damon's money so I think he might have too much on his plate.

"Sarah is always the one that ends up trying to pull everyone together and imagine it will fall to her again."

Coronation Street continues Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.