Coronation Street fans have begun to worry that Sally Ann Matthews – who plays the legendary Rovers Return Landlady Jenny Connor – has been axed from the soap after she posted a video claiming she was remembering “happier times”.
Matthews first arrived on the cobbles in 1986 as legendary villain Alan Bradley’s (Mark Eden) troubled daughter, before she left in 1991 and then returned for a short stint in 1993, before making a full-time return in 2015.
However, whilst Matthews’ character has recently been in a huge storyline involving serial killer Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) some fans have grown concerned that they won’t see Jenny again on the soap.
Speaking to her fans during a late-night Instagram live, Matthews revealed she hasn’t filmed on the cobbles for a long time – and that fans shouldn’t expect to see her for a long time.
She said: “I chose to get on an aeroplane because I’m particularly quiet at work. I’ve got like a million years off, so I chose to go on an aeroplane and I chose to remember happier times.”
The ITV star added that she had been to Cyprus twice in the past five weeks and added that she was planning to go away again this weekend: “And then I’m going to go back to Cyprus, and do nowt.
Sally has played Jenny Connor on the ITV soap since 1986
ITV
“And at some point, I might get a job and someone might employ me, potentially.”
During the live, Matthews was asked by concerned fans if she meant she had been axed by new boss Kate Brooks, leaving the soap star to make an awkward sound.
Reading a question submitted by a fan, she added: “Have you left the street? Hmm. Hang on, next question. You’re not going to be seeing Jenny for quite a long while. So that’s that.”
In response to her answer, one fan wrote: “I’m confused. Are you not on Corrie any more? I feel like I’ve missed something or my memory blew up?????”
Sally didn’t respond when asked if she had left the show
ITV
Another queried: “You’re not on Corrie anymore?”, adding a shocked face emoji.
The news of Matthews’ potential exit comes just weeks after Helen Worth, who played Gail Platt for 50 years, was leaving the soap and shared an emotional statement.
She penned: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world. I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.
“I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in and week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew. The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
Helen recently revealed she was leaving the show after 50 years
ITV
Worth will start filming her exit story next month and the emotional scenes will be on screen at the end of the year.
Executive Producer Iain Macleod said of her departure: “The words ‘legend’ and ‘icon’ get used a lot these days but they genuinely do apply to Gail and to Helen Worth.
“Everyone connected to the show will miss having her around the place just as much as the viewers will miss having her on their screens and we wish her all the very best for the future.”
