BHF interrupts Corrie credits with vital heart health plea

In a unique move, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) aired a poignant message during Coronation Street’s end credits on Sunday night, replacing the familiar theme tune with the unsettling sound of a flatlining heartbeat.

The ad, broadcast after the episode in which beloved character Gail Platt experienced a heart attack, highlighted the charity’s mission to save lives through heart health research.

The unexpected interruption featured former Corrie star Kimberly Hart-Simpson, who voiced a heartfelt appeal for BHF’s life-saving work in heart attack prevention and treatment.

Speaking about the campaign, BHF’s Associate Medical Director Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan stated, “A heart attack can happen on any street, even Coronation Street.”

For many UK viewers, Gail Platt has been a constant presence since her character’s introduction in 1974.

Following her on-screen cardiac arrest, the BHF ad urged viewers to consider that, while Gail’s outcome was positive, real-life situations can have a different ending.

Dr. Babu-Narayan continued, “We hope the unexpected sound of a heart monitor flatlining captured people’s attention and served as a reminder that Gail’s exit from the show could have ended very differently.”

The storyline highlights a critical message: heart attacks remain one of the UK’s most common causes of death, and women are often overlooked in heart health discussions.

Recent figures indicate over 800,000 women in the UK live with coronary heart disease, yet societal biases and diagnostic gaps mean that women’s outcomes frequently lag behind men’s. BHF’s Bias and Biology report shows that female patients often face delayed or missed diagnoses, and their chances of survival can be lower.

Coronation Street’s storyline, in which Gail undergoes a life-saving stent procedure after suffering a heart attack, mirrors reality for 33,000 women hospitalised annually in the UK due to heart attacks.

In the 1960s, seven out of ten heart attacks were fatal; now, thanks in part to BHF-funded research, survival rates have dramatically improved, with seven out of ten people surviving.

Gail’s on-screen journey also serves as a reminder that coronary heart disease is the single biggest killer of women worldwide, taking more lives than breast cancer each year in the UK. “With support from people across the UK, we can turn what once seemed like science fiction into reality,” said Dr. Babu-Narayan, noting the progress made possible through continued funding.

Simon Daglish, ITV’s Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, described the ad takeover as a creative partnership with the BHF, stating, “Just as Gail’s heart momentarily stopped, we wanted to arrest the famous Coronation Street theme tune to showcase the incredible work of the British Heart Foundation.”

BHF, the UK’s largest independent cardiovascular research funder, currently backs 65 projects valued at £34 million, aimed at detecting, treating, and preventing heart disease.

ITV clarified that Coronation Street is not affiliated with the charity’s fundraising efforts.

However, donations to the BHF will support additional research to continue the life-saving work underscored by Gail Platt’s storyline.

With the support of the Coronation Street audience, the BHF hopes this campaign will help amplify awareness of heart attack risks in women and secure funding for the next wave of advancements in heart health.