Coronation Street has entered a season of change. Several long-serving characters have stepped away, and the show’s future now feels wide open. In the middle of this big change, one former star has hinted that she may be open to returning, more than two decades after her last scene.
Big Farewells and a New Era
Sally Ann Matthews has confirmed she’s leaving Coronation Street. She announced on 1 August that it was time to take on roles she had always hoped for. After years at the Rovers Return as Jenny Connor, she now feels ready to move on. Matthews first joined the show in 1986 as Alan Bradley’s defiant daughter. She left in 1991, then surprised fans with a 2016 return.
Sally’s exit follows several major departures. Charlotte Jordan, Shelley King, and Colson Smith; all left earlier this year. Sue Devaney, who plays Debbie Webster, will exit in 2027 too after a dementia storyline brings her arc to a close. Viewers are now looking ahead to what, or who might come next.
Coronation Street Star Says She’s Open to Returning
Suranne Jones, who played Karen McDonald from 2000 to 2004, has said she would consider returning. Speaking to The Times before the launch of her Netflix thriller Hostage, Jones admitted she’d say yes if asked to appear in an episode. She explained that she would have refused the idea two years after her exit.
At the time, she had other plans and didn’t want to look back. But now, after 21 years, she feels differently. “It might be fun,” she said. “Why not?” Karen McDonald became one of the soap’s most memorable characters, and even a single appearance now would make waves.
From Soap Fame to Acclaimed Dramas
Since leaving Coronation Street, Jones has built a strong TV career. She starred in Scott & Bailey and Gentleman Jack, both written by Sally Wainwright, earning Bafta nominations for both. Her role in Doctor Foster, written by Mike Bartlett, brought more praise. But one role she has no interest in is the Doctor in Doctor Who.
Jones admitted she would feel too intimidated to take on the part. She praised Ncuti Gatwa’s work and said it’s “a pressurised job.” She also spoke warmly about Jodie Whittaker’s run, saying she watched some episodes with her son and found them demanding. “That takes a lot,” she said, and added she would be frightened by the challenge.
Jones hasn’t committed to anything, but she hasn’t ruled it out either, and her comments have opened a door. Keep following Soap Opera Daily for all the latest on cast news, returns, and soap updates from the world of Coronation Street.