Sally Ann Matthews may have closed the door on Jenny Bradley, but she’s wasting no time stepping into a world that feels completely unfamiliar to long-time Coronation Street viewers. Just months after leaving the cobbles, the soap icon has signed on for a role that couldn’t be more different from the troubled landlady fans watched unravel behind the Rovers Return bar.
Sally Ann Matthews Takes On A Role Far From Jenny
Sally Ann Matthews has landed an exciting new stage role in HERE & NOW, the hit musical built around the songs of Steps. She will play Patricia, taking over from Finty Williams, who originated the role and completed her run in December 2025.
Sally is set to begin performances on January 23, 2026, marking her first major project since leaving Coronation Street last autumn. The contrast between Patricia and Jenny Bradley could hardly be different.
Sally’s casting also signals a deliberate shift in tone. After decades immersed in gritty soap storytelling, she is now embracing a feel-good production designed to entertain, uplift, and lean into spectacle.
Sally Ann Matthews’ history with Coronation Street spans an incredible 39 years. She first appeared as Jenny Bradley in 1986, remaining on the ITV soap until 1991 before briefly returning in 1993. Her full-time comeback in 2015 re-established Jenny as a central figure on the cobbles.
Leaving A 39-Year Coronation Street Legacy Behind
Across those decades, Jenny transformed from a rebellious teenager into one of Weatherfield’s most emotionally complex characters. Sally fronted some of the soap’s most intense storylines, from explosive relationships to devastating personal tragedies, earning a reputation as one of the show’s most powerful performers.
That long-running connection made her exit last year feel especially final. Jenny’s farewell marked the end of an era for viewers who had grown up watching Sally in the role. For fans who still associate her with pulling pints at the Rovers, Sally Ann Matthews stepping into Patricia feels worlds away from Jenny Bradley. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.