Sally Ann Matthews, who played Jenny Bradley on Coronation Street, has spoken candidly about her departure from the ITV soap last year. The 55-year-old actress, who first appeared on the cobbles in 1986, said she left because she was no longer enjoying the role. 'I don't want to waste my time doing stuff that I'm not enjoying with people that I am not enjoying doing it with,' she explained.
Matthews, who returned to the show in 2015 and became landlady of the Rovers Return, revealed that she had been switching off from the programme. She noted that plans to move her character into The Kabin fell through due to set availability. The actress, who is married to barrister Nick Rhodes and has two sons, has now taken on a role in a Steps musical, describing it as a 'joyful' new project.
The actress also criticised the current direction of Coronation Street, arguing that it has become too focused on crime and police stories. 'It's not just about looking back with rose-tinted glasses. The thing about soaps was about knowing those characters. Now, stories aren't character-led,' she said. She added that while ITV may benefit from large audiences, the soap should 'stay in its lane'.
Despite her criticisms, Matthews expressed gratitude for her time on the show, particularly working with legends like Barbara Knox and Julie Goodyear. She remains in touch with Knox, who played her on-screen foster mother Rita Fairclough, and said she was pleased with how their final scenes were handled.
