BHF interrupts Coronation Street credits with heartfelt message

Coronation Street’s iconic theme tune was dramatically changed last night (Sunday 27th Oct) with the sound of a flatlining heartbeat and important message from the charity following Gail Platt’s cardiac arrest.

In a groundbreaking twist, we interrupted the end credits highlighting the our vital research into prevention, diagnosis and treatment to help more people, like Gail, live longer and healthier lives.

The co-branded advert, voiced by our ambassador and former Corrie actor Kimberly Hart-Simpson, came after heartbroken viewers found out one of the show's most iconic characters, Gail Platt, will be leaving the Weatherfield cobbles after 50 years.

Last week viewers watched as the 66-year-old suffer a heart attack before going onto have a cardiac arrest in hospital. She then underwent a lifesaving procedure, to stent open her blocked coronary artery that caused the heart attack and to try to prevent any further heart attacks.  

Our Associate Medical Director,and consultant cardiologist, Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, said: “A heart attack can happen on any street, even Coronation Street. 

"We’re honoured to be a part of British television history by working with ITV and Coronation Street to deliver the incredibly important message that heart attacks happen to women too and that supporting the BHF to fund science could save lives. We hope the unexpected sound of a heart monitor flatlining at the end of Sunday’s episode captured people’s attention and served as a reminder that Gail’s exit from the show could have ended very differently.  

“Thankfully, in part due to vital medical research funded by the BHF, heart attack survival rates have dramatically improved over the past 60 years. But the job is not done, and cardiovascular disease is still the world’s biggest killer. With the generous support of people all over the UK, many of whom are Coronation Street fans, we can turn what once seemed like science fiction into reality. We need to keep funding new research to save and improve even more lives, to give people like Gail more time with the ones they love.” 

Many of today’s Corrie fans won't recall a time without the Platt matriarch on their screen. One of the show’s most loved characters Gail was born in 1958, around the same time as the charity was formed (1961). In the 1960s, more than seven out of ten heart attacks in the UK were fatal. Today, more than seven out of ten people survive. BHF funded research has played a crucial part in this.

'Heart attacks happen to women too'

Thanks to swift medical action Gail survived. But the reality isn’t the same for many of the 33,000 women who are admitted to hospital in the UK due to a heart attack each year.  Our Bias and Biology report suggests that despite decades of research, outcomes are often worse for women than for men. 

Gail’s cardiac episode is a stark reminder that coronary heart disease, the main cause of heart attacks, kills more than twice as many women as breast cancer in the UK every year and is the single biggest killer of women worldwide. 

Coronary heart disease is often considered only a disease of men, however, there are more than 800,000 women in the UK living with coronary heart disease. It’s estimated that, like Gail, around half of them have survived a heart attack.  

'A heart attack can happen on any street - even Coronation Street'

Talking about the credit takeover: Simon Daglish, Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, ITV said: “Just as Gail’s heart momentarily stopped, we want to arrest the famous Coronation Street theme tune to showcase the incredible work of the British Heart Foundation. We’re very proud to be able to work with important charities and brands to help amplify their message in innovative and creative ways and help the BHF with their vital research.” 

We are the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research in the UK and are currently funding 65 projects valued at £34 million, all aimed at enhancing the detection, treatment and prevention of heart attacks.

Please note, Coronation Street are not affiliated with the ask for donations. All donations will support British Heart Foundation as they fund more lifesaving research.  

Donate to fund vital research into heart and circulatory diseases