Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard has admitted she is struggling to sleep amid her cancer battle. The 69-year-old actress, who was diagnosed with early-stage cancer earlier this year, recently completed radiotherapy treatment and is now facing new challenges in her recovery.
Taking to Instagram on Monday evening, the former Rovers Return landlady shared an emotional video update with her fans. In the clip, she explained that rest remains elusive and that side effects are taking a toll. "I'm trying to rest, it's still difficult to sleep. My skin is driving me insane, it's burning, it's itching," she said.
Struggling with side effects
Callard, who relocated to Ireland with her husband Jon McEwan to join the cast of RTE's Fair City, described the ongoing discomfort. "I want to [scratch] all the time. I'm not, but I want to. I'm still nauseous every now and again but maybe it's not quite as bad now. But it's just so difficult to sleep. I'll get there."
The actress, known for her roles in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and I'm A Celebrity...South Africa, also voiced concerns about her upcoming return to screens. Her character Lily is set to appear on Fair City on Thursday 6th August, and Callard admitted she feels anxious because those scenes were filmed during her treatment.
Anxious about work return
"I am worried because on Thursday 6th August, Lily, the character I play is back on screen in Fair City and when I filmed all those scenes, I was going through radiotherapy then," she said. "So I keep thinking 'I hope I've not let anyone down, I hope I've not let myself down.' So I'm anxious about that, I'm a worrier. I always worry about work all the time but yeah, I'm quite anxious and nervous about that."
In the caption of her post, Callard wrote: "A lazy couple of days… just what I needed! Although… when I'm not busy, the anxious thoughts creep back in! Can't win really." Her followers were quick to offer support, with comments praising her strength and suggesting remedies for sleep.
Adjusting to silence after treatment
Earlier, the actress had spoken about the strange transition after finishing radiotherapy. "When you're going through it, everyone is on the phone to you all the time - nurses ringing you, then aftercare and everything. I finished last Thursday and suddenly - silence. The side effects are getting worse, which I didn't really expect. But it's the silence more than anything," she explained.
