When Sally Dynevor joined the Coronation Street cast decades ago, one might imagine that she had secured a kind of job permanence. But in a revealing recent appearance on the ‘Making A Scene’ podcast, she shined a light on a less glamorous reality, even longtime cast members live under the pressure of short contracts and annual renewals.
“One Year At a Time”
In her candid conversation, Sally confirmed that her contract for Coronation Street runs only for one year at a time. She joked (but with an undertone of genuine anxiety), “You always think, ‘this is the year before they get rid of me.’”
She even raised the question of whether other cast members feel the same, particularly veteran actors like Bill Roache (Ken Barlow), and responded: “It’s the same for all of us … I imagine none of us are indispensable. There’s always other people and other stories to be told.” So, longevity on a hit soap doesn’t equal immunity from uncertainty.
Renewal Windows And Short Notice
Dynevor elaborated on how renewal decisions are communicated. For “older ones” (i.e. actors with long tenure, like herself), the renewal window tends to fall between November and January. If a decision not to renew comes, the timing is tight. Her own contract ends in late January, meaning that actors could have just weeks’ notice that their role won’t continue.
When asked if that gives them enough time to prepare, she replied simply, “No.” This structure, annual contracts, renewal windows close to the contract’s end, means that even established stars operate with a kind of looming precariousness. No one is fully safe from being written out or replaced.
Coronation Street: Jobs in Soaps Are Not Forever
Sally’s remarks expose a reality that likely surprises many fans. Soap operas, even ones as venerable as Coronation Street, often rely on flexibility in staffing, story shifts, and cast changes. That openness has its advantages (new characters, fresh storylines) but also serious downsides (insecurity for actors, abrupt transitions for viewers).
These conversations are rarely public, which is part of what made her appearance on Making A Scene so compelling. Beyond the glitz and drama onscreen, there’s a reminder: no role is guaranteed, even if you’re a household name. For more such Coronation Street updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily!