Coronation Street star Sally Ann Matthews has announced a long break from her role as Jenny Connor on the ITV soap.

Sally has played Rovers Return landlady Jenny since 1986, taking an extended break in 1993 before her return in 2015. Initially a troubled foster child of Rita Tanner’s, Jenny has been involved in plenty of hard-hitting storylines, including stealing Carla Connor’s money to take the Rovers back for herself.

Now the actress has confessed she hasn’t been filming on the cobbles for a while – and fans will miss out on seeing her face for some time yet. In an Instagram Live, Sally told followers she’s been able to travel a lot more due to her open filming schedule.

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. I’ve been to Cyprus twice in the past five weeks, and we landed last night and we came back.”

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She added: “My next holiday plans are on Saturday. We’re going to go off on the boat, and then I’m going to just chill on the boat and do nowt, pretty much. And then I’m going to go back to Cyprus and do nowt. And at some point, I might get a job and someone might employ me, potentially.”

With fans wondering if she has quit the cobbles for good, Sally read aloud from her messages coming in: “Have you left the street? Hmm. Hang on, next question.” She eventually added: “You’re not going to be seeing Jenny for quite a long while. So that’s that.”

Corrie
But she later promised: “Well, you’ll see Jenny again but… you won’t see her for a while! Okey-dokey, sounds like this might be the best time to go! I think I might’ve done a reasonably successful Live!”

It comes after Corrie legend Helen Worth, who has played Gail Platt for half a century, quit the show – with her departure expected to air later this year. Helen said: “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.”

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She added: “I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in 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.”

Her co-stars rushed to pay tribute to her, with Sally Metcalfe star Sally Dynevor admitting: “We’re going to miss her so much because she’s amazing. Helen was there before I started, she was a guiding light to me really, she’s a wonderful actress and I love her. I’ll miss her.”