Corrie star reveals Morrissey pitched a script
Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor has delighted fans with her unexpected revelation that legendary musician Morrissey is not only a long-time admirer of the ITV soap but even once submitted a script idea to the show. The chance encounter between the two British icons – one of music, the other of television – has quickly become one of the most heartwarming anecdotes about Coronation Street’s influence across generations.
Dynevor recalled the moment with laughter during her chat with BBC Radio Manchester, explaining how Morrissey, known for his often guarded and enigmatic personality, turned into something of an excited fanboy upon meeting her. “He was so keen to visit the cobbles,” she said. “It’s funny because you don’t expect someone like Morrissey, who’s toured the world and met all these famous people, to be so thrilled about Weatherfield. But he absolutely was. He told me he’d sent a script in years ago – I don’t think it ever got anywhere, but it shows just how much he loved the programme.”
The timing of the meeting was, in Dynevor’s words, both amusing and frustrating. She admitted that many of her fellow cast members had already wrapped up filming for the day, meaning Morrissey’s dream of mingling with the actors he admired remained largely unfulfilled. “He was desperate to meet people,” she explained, “and I just kept thinking, ‘Oh, if only everyone else was still here!’ He really wanted to soak it all in.”
Coronation Street has long enjoyed a devoted fan base that stretches beyond ordinary television audiences, attracting well-known admirers from across the cultural spectrum. From members of the Royal Family to household-name musicians and politicians, the cobbled street in Weatherfield has been a constant presence in British life since 1960. Morrissey’s fandom adds another layer to that legacy – particularly striking given his image as a reluctant celebrity and outspoken critic of mainstream culture.
For Dynevor, the story underlines just how deeply Coronation Street resonates with viewers. She joined the cast in 1986 as Sally Webster and has remained one of the soap’s most recognisable faces for nearly four decades. Through countless dramatic storylines – from marriages and affairs to life-threatening health battles – she has become synonymous with resilience and relatability. That parallel between her personal life and her character’s struggles is especially poignant when it comes to her breast cancer journey.
Earlier this year, Dynevor climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise funds for breast cancer research, marking 16 years since she received her diagnosis. The climb, which required months of physical training and immense mental strength, was both a personal milestone and a symbolic gesture of gratitude. “It felt like closing a circle,” she said in a separate interview. “When I was first diagnosed, it was terrifying – and then to play Sally on screen going through the same thing made it even more emotional. To be here now, healthy, and to be able to do something so challenging while giving back, that means everything.”
Her charity efforts earned praise not only from her fans but also from the production team at Coronation Street, who often highlight the cast’s dedication to real-life causes. Dynevor’s climb raised tens of thousands of pounds, contributing significantly to research initiatives aimed at improving early detection and treatment.
The Morrissey anecdote, though light-hearted, also ties back to that theme of connection. It shows how Coronation Street is more than just a soap opera; it is a cultural touchstone that unites people from very different walks of life. Whether it’s a music icon turning into a wide-eyed tourist on the cobbles or an ordinary viewer drawing strength from Sally’s on-screen battles, the show continues to leave a lasting impact.
There’s also a hint of wistfulness in Dynevor’s retelling. She regrets that Morrissey’s script idea never came to fruition, joking that it might have offered a “very moody” storyline for the residents of Weatherfield. Fans online have already begun speculating about what a Morrissey-penned episode could look like – some imagining a darker, more melancholic twist to the street’s usual mix of humour and heartbreak.
At 62, Dynevor remains one of the soap’s most admired veterans, admired not only for her longevity but for her ability to balance dramatic weight with warmth and charm. Her colleagues often praise her leadership behind the scenes, where she acts as a mentor for younger cast members while continuing to deliver standout performances on screen.
As for Morrissey, his affection for Coronation Street is now part of the show’s folklore. Whether or not his script ever resurfaces, his visit to the cobbles reinforces the idea that no one is too big a star to be humbled by the magic of Weatherfield. And for Dynevor, the memory is another colourful chapter in a career full of them – one that highlights her unique place at the heart of Britain’s longest-running soap.