Rita Tanner didn’t say much, just stood silently in the doorway of the Rovers Return as Jenny Connor pulled her suitcase out.

That farewell scene, which was supposed to be just a short scene, made the entire Coronation Street set fall silent.

According to insiders, this wasn’t how Jenny was supposed to leave – but things changed at the last minute.

Sally Ann Matthews, who plays Jenny, shared that she and the writing team sat down to “rewrite the fate” of the character.

Initially, the script just had Jenny quietly leaving the street after an argument, but the director decided to add a scene where Rita handed over an envelope of money, with a heartbreaking message: “This is for you to fly away. Start loving yourself again.” The dialogue seemed simple, but it made the whole crew cry. Rita – Jenny’s spiritual mother – ended the story between two generations of women with a hug, instead of tragic tears.

Loyal viewers understood that Rita was not only a friend but also Jenny’s “adoptive mother”. The couple had gone through many turbulent years: from when Alan Bradley – Jenny’s biological father – died in an accident that nearly killed Rita, to when Jenny returned, more mature, and became the owner of Rovers Return. They were like two successive generations – one who preserved traditional values, the other who tried to rebuild her name on the street full of memories.

The final scene between them was therefore not just a farewell to the characters, but a symbol of emotional transition: Rita sent Jenny away with love, while Jenny left with regret and hope. When Matthews left the show, the audience did not just say goodbye to a character – they said goodbye to a “golden generation” of Coronation Street.