A CORONATION Street icon has sparked rumours that she’s set to quit Weatherfield as she makes a drastic decision after five decades on the cobbles.
What follows contains spoilers for tonight’s episode of the soap which is already available on ITVX.
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Jenny Connor, played by Sally Ann Matthews, has been on the cobbles since 1986, and as the landlord of the Rovers Return, she’s had her fair share of ups and downs.
But after she discovered that her stepdaughter Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) had swiped her £60,000 inheritance things have gone from bad to worse.
In tonight’s episode, Jenny has confirmed that the deeds to the pub have been officially signed over to Carla.
Now unemployed and homeless, Jenny is desperate to find work.
Jenny was contemplating her future as she sat in the back room of the Rover Returns with Kabin owner Brian Packham and her foster mother Rita Tanner.
When she turned to Brian and cheekily asked him whether he had any jobs available at the local newsagents.
Brian replied: “Sorry, no. I’ve got my full compliment of staff at the moment.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be hasty, love” interrupted soap icon Rita played by Dame Barbara Knox.
She continued: “I’m a woman of a certain age and I’m hoping to wind down a little and I’m sure there may be some vacancies.”
A frustrated Brian informed Rita that he couldn’t lose her because she was a vital cog in the machine.
“Well this old cog is going to wear out if I don’t ease up, so think on,” Rita replied.
Brian then turned to a delighted Jenny and asked: “When can you start?”
But despite Jenny’s relief, fans might be wondering what this mean for Rita’s future in the soap?
Will she be another one of the many actors to exit the street?
Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025
ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.
This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.
Colson Smith – Craig Tinker
The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.
Sue Cleaver – Eileen Grimshaw
After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I’m A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she’s already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.
Luca Toolan – Mason Radcliffe
Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.
Sue Devaney – Debbie Webster
In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.
Charlotte Jordan – Daisy Midgeley
The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she’s hungry to see what other opportunities await.
Shelley King – Yasmeen Metcalfe
The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.
A number of stars have been given the boot over the past few months with co-stars Luca Toolan (Mason Radcliffe) and Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster) having also been written out by bosses.
Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw) and Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley) also opted to quit the programme following the high-profile exit of Helen Worth as Gail Platt after 50 years.
But maybe Rita’s plans to cut back – mean just that – after all she’s been in the soap for over five decades.
Rita was previously the owner of the newsagents, but she sold her remaining share of the business to Norris Cole in 2009.
But she continued to stay on as one of the staff when Brian bought the shop in 2019.
However the soap legend joined the street as a full-time cast member back in 1972 and is a mother figure to a number of the street’s residents.
Including Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews), Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor), Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), and Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell).
She is also a great friend of Audrey ( Sue Nicholls), Ken Barlow (William Roache) and Roy Cropper (David Neilson).
And although her romantic flings may be well behind her, she brings humour and much warmth to the show.
It would be a huge loss to the soap if there are plans for her to leave.
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Coronation Street airs tonight at 8pm but is also available on ITVX.