Coronation Street airs surprise low-key exit for soap favourite as final scenes air after 40 years
Coronation Street has aired a surprise exit for one Weatherfield favourite as one fan-favourite star’s final scenes aired in the latest episode.
The ITV soap officially said farewell to one of its long-running characters, nearly 40 years since she made her debut on the cobbles.
During Wednesday’s (October 1) visit to the famous Street, which was available to watch on ITVX from 7am before airing at 8pm the same evening, viewers saw Jenny Connor leave her life in Weatherfield behind.
The former Rovers Return landlady found herself caught out in a lie after she let her crush, George Shuttleworth, think that Rita Tanner was dying after she suffered a fall earlier this week, as she remained jealous of his blossoming relationship with Christina Boyd.
Undertaker George was horrified with Jenny heading to the funeral parlour to apologise. But when she was there, she found an order of service for a woman just a year older than her who had just died.
It made Jenny think about her own life, and was later heard talking about her happiness in the Rovers, having spent her early years watching Bet Lynch in charge of the beloved boozer.
“I watched her swanning around, queen bee, in this world that was all her’s and I never imagined one day that would be me,” she said. “Or that one day I felt that I would really belong there. I’ve still got the name plate. It’s under my bed.”
George then suggested she go off to Tenerife to restart her life, but Jenny claim she couldn’t as she had to care for Rita. The undertaker then got involved and spoke to Rita, later handed Jenny and envelope of cash and told Jenny: “It’s for a flight – one way.
Jenny said her goodbyes
“It’s time you start liking yourself again and I don’t think that’s something you’re getting round here. Who wants to spend life being grateful? And if you stick around here long enough it’ll be my turn. I’ve got friends around here, good friends. I will be alright.”
She eventually walked out of the Rovers for the final time and with cases in hand, headed for her new life in Spain, with one last knowing glance between her and Rita.
The quiet exit comes after actress Sally Ann Matthews confirmed she was bowing out of the long-running show. Jenny – whose last name was then Bradley – made her first appearance in the programme in 1986, when Oldham-born Sally was just 16.
The daughter of villain Alan Bradley, Jenny was taken in by mother figure Rita Tanner – then Rita Fairclough – while her father worked away.
After five years, Sally quit the show in pursuit of other roles. She returned briefly in 1993, before making a huge comeback in 2015 when Jenny started dating Kevin Webster and the rest, as they say, is history.
Sally took to Instagram to confirm the news of her exit earlier this year. As she shared a picture of Jenny during the child kidnap storyline, she wrote: “I was supposed to stay for five months but ended up doing an extra ten years because I loved it so much!
“It’s time, though, to play those parts I always hoped I would when I’d grown up.’ Thanks Trafford Wharf Rd for the memories and endless laughter.”