{"id":285208,"date":"2026-01-15T05:33:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T05:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/285208\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T05:33:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T05:33:11","slug":"coronation-streets-sally-ann-matthews-secures-first-big-role-since-jenny-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/285208\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronation Street&#8217;s Sally Ann Matthews secures first big role since Jenny exit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/coronation-street\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/coronation-street\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Coronation Street\" data-node-id=\"1.0.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Coronation Street<\/a> star Sally Ann Matthews has booked her first role since she left the cobbles in her rearview mirror last year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/coronation-street\/a65574001\/coronation-street-sally-ann-matthews-jenny-connor-exit\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/coronation-street\/a65574001\/coronation-street-sally-ann-matthews-jenny-connor-exit\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Matthews exited the role of Jenny last October\" data-node-id=\"1.2\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Matthews exited the role of Jenny last October<\/a> when the former Rovers landlady opted for a fresh start away from Weatherfield. Now, the former soap star has been announced as part of the cast of the official Steps musical, Here &amp; Now.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The actor takes over the role of Patricia, joining the current cast on the show&#8217;s UK and Ireland tour from 23 January.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The jukebox musical from a book by Shaun Kitchener premiered in 2024, giving a look into the &#8220;Summer of Love&#8221; of a group of down-on-their-luck friends. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Supermarket employee Caz (Lara Denning) is devastated when her husband decides to end their marriage and take away her chance to adopt a baby.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">After encouraging her fiends Vel (Jacqui Dubois), Neeta (Rosie Singha) and Robbie (Blake Patrick Anderson) to make some much-needed changes in their lives, Caz realises she has to take her own advice and rebuild her life.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"jenny bradley, coronation street\" title=\"Jenny Bradley, Coronation Street\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/coronation-street-jenny-bradley-68de53e07fde0.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>ITV<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"15.0\">Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Best streaming services\" data-node-id=\"15.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong data-node-id=\"15.1.0\">Best streaming services<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The cast for the musical featuring Steps&#8217; music is rounded out by River Medway as Jem, Chris Grahamson as Caz&#8217;s husband Gareth, Edward Baker-Duly as Max, Ben Darcy as Ben, John Stacey as Lesley and Lauren Woolf as Tracey.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Also starring are Georgia Christofi, Kade Ferraiolo, Albert Green, Harry Jack, Casey Jay, Charlie-Jay Johnson, Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, Dean Rickards, Markus S\u00f6dergren, Genevieve Taylor and Jessica Vaux.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"21\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The UK and Ireland tour kicks off in Southampton on 20 January, with Matthews taking over from Finty Williams on 23 January. Playing across the UK and Ireland, the show bows out in Canterbury in May.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"steps, lee latchford evans, faye tozer, claire richards, h, lisa scott lee\" title=\"Steps, Lee Latchford-Evans, Faye Tozer, Claire Richards, H, Lisa Scott-Lee\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3000\" height=\"1919\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1541691619-steps-2018-concert.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Getty Images<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"24\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"24.0\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/music\/a788565\/lee-from-steps-reveals-the-tragedy-dance-routine-was-inspired-by-macaulay-culkin\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/music\/a788565\/lee-from-steps-reveals-the-tragedy-dance-routine-was-inspired-by-macaulay-culkin\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Lee from Steps reveals the &#039;Tragedy&#039; dance routine was inspired by Macaulay Culkin\" data-node-id=\"24.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Lee from Steps reveals the &#8216;Tragedy&#8217; dance routine was inspired by Macaulay Culkin<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Matthews started playing the role of Jenny on Corrie in 1986. After an on-off stint, she returned to Weatherfield in a regular capacity in 2015, with her final episode airing in early October last year.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/coronation-street\/a68174152\/coronation-street-changed-jenny-exit-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/coronation-street\/a68174152\/coronation-street-changed-jenny-exit-story\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Weighing in on her exit\" data-node-id=\"28.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Weighing in on her exit<\/a> last year, the actor shut down rumours she&#8217;d been given the axe, saying it was a mutual decision with the producers of the soap.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"30\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"30.0\">The UK and Ireland tour for Here &amp; Now starts on 20 January. <a href=\"https:\/\/thestepsmusical.com\/#tour\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/thestepsmusical.com\/#tour\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Tickets\" data-node-id=\"30.0.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tickets<\/a> are available now.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"33\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"33.0\">For exclusive soap star interviews, gossip, spoilers and theories every week, don&#8217;t miss the <a href=\"https:\/\/podfollow.com\/soap-scoop\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/podfollow.com\/soap-scoop\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Soap Scoop podcast\" data-node-id=\"33.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Soap Scoop podcast<\/a> from Inside Soap magazine. <a href=\"https:\/\/pod.fo\/e\/37739e\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/pod.fo\/e\/37739e\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"This week&#039;s episode\" data-node-id=\"33.0.5\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This week&#8217;s episode<\/a> features a chat with Coronation Street star Jacob Roberts, who plays Kit Green.<\/strong><br data-node-id=\"33.1\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Coronation Street star Sally Ann Matthews has booked her first role since she left the cobbles in her&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285209,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[265],"tags":[341,143117,343,18,117,19,17,342,143116,128],"class_list":{"0":"post-285208","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-content-type-news","9":"tag-contentid-ee9dd615-5849-42a9-999b-87c98a8bfbab","10":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","11":"tag-eire","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-ie","14":"tag-ireland","15":"tag-locale-gb","16":"tag-shorttitle-coronation-street-star-secures-first-big-role-since-exit","17":"tag-tv"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115897487211607372","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285208"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285208\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=285208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=285208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}