Not only on screen, but also in real life, Jenny Connor’s departure also left Coronation Street audiences surprised and emotional.

In the episode broadcast on October 1, the character Jenny officially left Weatherfield with a quiet but symbolic ending.

However, few people know that this decision had been considered by Sally Ann Matthews – the actress who has been with Jenny for more than ten years – for many months before.

Last August, Sally Ann Matthews suddenly posted a status on Instagram, confirming that she would leave Corrie.

“I originally planned to stay for five months, but it ended up being ten years because I love this place so much. Now it’s time for me to move on and find the roles I’ve always dreamed of,” she wrote. The sharing was simple but left a big void in the hearts of the audience.

In an interview with The Bolton News, Matthews joked that Jenny “has been through a lot”. She also admitted that she wanted to spend time with her family after more than 11 years of continuous filming away from home. “I want to sit in the garden, play with my dog ​​and be close to my loved ones. That’s a luxury I haven’t had for a long time,” the actress confided.

Looking back, Jenny Connor is one of the most complex and multi-dimensional characters on Coronation Street. When she first returned in 2015, she shocked viewers with her kidnapping act, which many viewers considered a villain. However, over time, the writers “atoned” for Jenny by giving her the opportunity to grow up, be loved, and become the owner of the Rovers Return Inn – the heart of Corrie.

What makes Jenny special is her constant transformation: sometimes wild and rebellious; sometimes weak and vulnerable. As Matthews once said: “There aren’t many jobs that give you the opportunity to show a range of emotions – sometimes in the same scene.” As a result, Jenny has become a character that viewers love and hate, but certainly can’t ignore.

On social media forums, viewers expressed their regret at Matthews’ departure from Corrie. Many called her “the most memorable Rovers landlady”, who breathed new life into one of the show’s most iconic scenes. “Jenny is irreplaceable,” wrote one fan. Another said: “Despite her flaws, Jenny is a very real image of a human being – complicated, flawed, but always yearning for love.”