Coronation Street star Sally Ann Matthews has reflected on her years on the cobbles and her experience working alongside a former co-star playfully teasing them for being “terrible.”
Coronation Street star Sally Ann Matthews has light-heartedly called out one of her former co-stars for their “dreadful” behaviour behind the scenes.
Sally first found fame when she joined the ITV soap in 1986 at just 16 years old, portraying Jenny Bradley. She played the role until 1991, made a brief return in 1993, and later rejoined the cast full-time in 2015.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Sally had decided to leave the long-running series nearly four decades after her first appearance on the famous cobbles.
In a touching Instagram post, she shared: “I was supposed to stay for five months but ended up doing an extra ten years because I loved it so much! It’s time, though, to take on the roles I always dreamed of when I’d grown up. Thanks, Trafford Wharf Rd, for the memories and endless laughter.”
Meanwhile, this week’s Coronation Street episodes featured Sally’s exit storyline, as Jenny said her emotional goodbyes and set off for a new life in Spain after enduring months of drama in Weatherfield, according to the Daily Star.
In a recent chat with Conversation Street, Sally looked back fondly on her time filming on the cobbles and spoke warmly about working alongside Jodie Prenger, who plays barmaid Glenda Shuttleworth.
However, it seems that some of Jodie’s on-set antics didn’t entirely sit well with Sally, who jokingly admitted why she thinks her co-star is “terrible” to work with.
Reflecting on Jenny’s time as landlady of the iconic Rovers Return, Sally revealed that the role was never something she had originally envisioned for herself, saying it was “not on my radar.” Fans will recall that Jenny took over as landlady in 2018 and remained at the helm until earlier this year, when events on the cobbles led to her emotional exit.
During her reign behind the bar, Jenny worked with several team members, including Daisy Midgeley (played by Charlotte Jordan) and Glenda Shuttleworth (portrayed by Jodie Prenger). Speaking fondly of Jodie, Sally said: “We had a great time! She fitted in perfectly she’s great fun.”
Sally then jokingly ribbed Jodie for her “terrible” on-set habits, revealing: “She is terrible though, because she always brings in sweets!”
She also spoke about her “low-key” departure from the show, addressing comments online: “I know people have said, because I’ve seen it already today on Twitter, people going: ‘Oh she should have had a bigger exit.’”
Despite this, Sally insisted she loved Jenny’s farewell, explaining that she preferred it to be understated: “Yeah, yeah, completely. And it’s also, they don’t do exit stories anymore, unless you’re going to die.”
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 pm on ITV1 and ITVX.