CORONATION Street star Sally Ann Matthews’ final episode aired today – but it was a distinctly lowkey affair.
While many soap stars bow out in explosions and long-running dramatic storylines, her character Jenny Connor’s end to her time on the cobbles was as far away from that as you can imagine.
Viewers watched as in the space of one episode, Jenny decided to move to Tenerife, packed her bags and left after a heart-to-heart with Rita Tanner.
The Sun exclusively revealed earlier this year how actress Sally had been axed from the soap, almost 40 years after making her debut as the daughter of legendary cobbles villain Alan Bradley.
But after hitting headlines for all the wrong reasons with her late-night Instagram posts with barbs at ITV’s cash crisis – many had expected Jenny to be killed off.
Instead she left the cobbles tonight with very little fanfare – just a touching goodbye to the Rovers and to her foster mum Rita.
The pair reminisced about old times on the cobbles with mentions of Bet Lynch and Jenny going back to her maiden name of Bradley – which was her final credit on the show too.
And The Sun can reveal that the decision for that was down to Sally Ann’s wishes to bow out quietly.
“She didn’t want to make a big deal of it,” a source said.
“She didn’t want a big leaving party nor did she want to do anything that would be a sensationalist exit. It was all kept very low key as per her wishes.
“Being associated with the soap for nearly 40 years, it was always going to sting to be axed but her exit was poignant and as close to classic Corrie as you can get.
“What’s essentially a two hander with Barbara was the perfect send off for Jenny and it was fitting she went back to being Bradley before she left.”
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The decision appears to have gone down well with fans – even if it left them in tears.
One said: “Wasn’t expecting to be crying into my cornflakes this morning watching Jenny’s exit.
“Didn’t even realise she was off quite so soon! I actually thought it was quite a fitting exit for her, considering the way things have ended up on the street for her character.”
A second said: “As rushed as it was, I almost had a tear in my eye at the final Jenny and Rita scenes.
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let’s break down who’s left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
“It’s a rarity that Corrie makes me feel any emotion these days but those scenes were beautifully played.”
Another added: “Gutted! What a final ep for Jenny.
“It feels like the end of an era with her and Rita too, that mother/daughter duo was brilliant. They didn’t always see eye to eye, but in the end they left things on such good terms. #Corrie”
