Coronation Street delivered an emotional throwback during Tuesday’s episode as the soap paid tribute to Hayley Cropper, reminding viewers why she remains one of Weatherfield’s most loved characters. The scenes also brought fresh attention to Julie Hesmondhalgh’s life today, including her marriage to a former Corrie co-star who now works on major ITV dramas behind the scenes.
Coronation Street Pays Tribute To Hayley Cropper In Tuesday’s Episode
Coronation Street brought Hayley Cropper back into the spotlight during Tuesday evening’s episode through a heartfelt moment at the café. Roy Cropper spoke to Lisa Swain and explained it was the anniversary of Hayley’s death, and he planned to visit the boating lake where he scattered her ashes.
Roy didn’t just reflect on his own grief, as he also encouraged Carla Connor to repair things with Lisa. He made it clear Hayley would want Carla to be happy, and he pushed her to stop holding back.
Carla then turned the conversation toward Roy’s future too. Roy has been writing to Alice, a potential love interest and pen pal, and Carla pointed out that Hayley would want him to find happiness as well. J
ulie Hesmondhalgh played Hayley as Roy’s cherished partner, and viewers still remember their relationship as one of Coronation Street’s most adored. David Neilson’s Roy first married Hayley by deed poll in 1999 before the couple later made it official in 2010.
Roy And Hayley’s Love Story Still Means Everything To Fans
Hayley’s story ended in heartbreaking fashion on 20 January 2014. She chose to end her life after receiving a devastating pancreatic cancer diagnosis, and the storyline remains one of the soap’s most emotional moments.
Roy and Hayley also left a mark on the wider street, not just on each other. The couple supported many residents during their time together, including Fiz Dobbs and Becky McDonald, which helped make them one of ITV’s most treasured partnerships.
Julie left Weatherfield in 2014, but she quickly built an impressive list of roles across ITV and the BBC. She appeared in the police thriller Happy Valley in 2016 as Amanda Wadsworth alongside Sarah Lancashire, James Norton, and Siobhan Finneran.
Besides, Julie is married to fellow actor and writer Ian Kershaw, and the couple married in 2005. Ian has played five different roles on Coronation Street over the years, and he later joined the writing team in 2018. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.