As Bernie Winter's fictional life descends into chaos on Coronation Street this week, the actress who portrays her, Jane Hazlegrove, leads a remarkably different and stable personal life off-screen. While Bernie grapples with grief and questionable decisions, Hazlegrove herself is happily married to fellow actress Isobel Middleton, with their relationship enduring for more than thirty years.
A Soap Star's Enduring Real-Life Partnership
Jane Hazlegrove, who joined the ITV soap in 2019 as the matriarch Bernie Winter, has become a beloved fixture on the show. Her character has navigated numerous dramatic plots, including marriage to Dev Alahan and the heart-wrenching death of her on-screen son Paul from Motor Neurone Disease in 2024. More recently, Bernie was devastated by the loss of son-in-law Billy Mayhew in a catastrophic vehicle pile-up in Weatherfield.
This week, Bernie's storyline takes another dramatic turn as she struggles with Billy's death, leading to a drunken encounter with a man named Mal and a potentially marriage-sabotaging invitation to his hotel room. Yet, behind the scenes, Hazlegrove's own marital narrative is one of longevity and quiet commitment, far removed from the soap opera theatrics.
The Beginning of a Decades-Long Romance
Jane Hazlegrove and Isobel Middleton first crossed paths in 1995 during Hazlegrove's performance in the sell-out play Boom Bang-a-Bang at London's Bush Theatre. Middleton, who attended the show, struck up a conversation with Hazlegrove, sparking a romance that has flourished for over three decades. Their connection was immediate and has stood the test of time in an industry known for its volatility.
From Civil Partnership to Marriage
In 2010, the couple formalised their relationship by becoming civil partners in a ceremony held on a boat in Bristol. Hazlegrove described the event as "amazing," noting she wore "a really nice frock." However, the decision was partly pragmatic; Middleton had been unwell, and without legal recognition, Hazlegrove was denied information about her partner's medical treatment, being viewed merely as a friend despite their decade-long relationship.
Five years later, in 2015, they opted to marry at a Bristol register office, though Hazlegrove was initially hesitant. She expressed reluctance to conform simply because the government had granted same-sex couples the right to marry, stating, "I've never been part of a gang, I like to think of myself as being someone who doesn't conform." Consequently, they kept the ceremony private, inviting only six friends for a curry afterwards, with Hazlegrove humorously recalling they only needed to "take a gas bill and upgrade."
Isobel Middleton's Own Soap Career
Like her wife, Isobel Middleton has built a successful acting career, primarily known for her roles in Emmerdale. She has portrayed Dr Lane in 2014, a barrister in 2018, and Jean Rawson in 2020, and currently plays village detective DI Roberts. Her credits extend to EastEnders, where she appeared as Sadie Banks in 2002, and even the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2009.
Intriguingly, Middleton has also graced the cobbles of Coronation Street, appearing as feminist author Persephone Braxton during a book launch at Roy's Rolls in 2022. Hazlegrove joked about wanting to chaperone her wife on set, but Middleton was having none of it. The scene involved Middleton's character chatting with Ken Barlow amid drama with Tracy, and Hazlegrove remarked, "I don't think her character would have liked Bernie very much!"
A Pillar of Support During Tough Times
In 2024, Hazlegrove revealed how Middleton provided crucial emotional support during a challenging professional period. When faced with the script for the episode depicting her on-screen son Paul's death, Hazlegrove felt "unable to open the script" at home, not wanting the heavy subject matter to linger in her personal space.
She shared, "So my missus took me off to a shepherd's hut in Northumbria, and we sat in the sunshine with a bottle of wine and read it together." This gesture highlights the depth of their partnership, with Middleton offering a sanctuary to help Hazlegrove navigate the emotional demands of her role.
Residing in Derbyshire, the couple continues to balance their careers in the spotlight with a private, grounded life together. As Bernie Winter's fictional tribulations unfold on screen, Jane Hazlegrove's real-world marriage to Isobel Middleton stands as a testament to enduring love and mutual support in the often tumultuous world of show business.
