CORONATION STREET favourite Julie Hesmondhalgh has quit the show after 15
years as transgender Hayley Cropper.
The actress, who wants to pursue projects away from the famous cobbles, has
been promised a “dramatic exit” at the end of the year.
Julie — who last September starred in Black Roses at Manchester’s Royal
Exchange Theatre — said: “I’ve had the most wonderful and happy time in the
life-changing 15 or 16 years I’ve been in Corrie and I owe so much to the
show and the special team that make it happen.
“The decision to hang up Hayley’s red anorak was a tough one but doing the
play at the Royal Exchange made me realise there’s life in the old dog yet
and that there are other things I want to try.
“Whatever happens next I’ll always be proudest of lovely Mrs Cropper and, in
particular, what we achieved in changing attitudes to transgender — and in
portraying possibly the most loving, faithful and steadfast couple in the
history of soap.
“I’ll always be the show’s biggest fan.”
Julie, who joined the show in 1998 as Hayley Patterson won the hearts of fans
— and cafe owner Roy Cropper, played by David Neilson.
Their touching romance and bid to marry was one of the show’s most
groundbreaking stories, gaining critical acclaim and plaudits from the
transgender community.
Last night her co-stars praised the actress as the “lynchpin” of the
tight-knit cast in a series of heartfelt messages.
Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully, wrote on Twitter: “So here is the sad,
sad news… Send your love to her @juliehes. She’s the lynchpin in our
Weatherfield family. I honestly don’t know how we’ll cope…”
Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Webster, added: “@juliehes will miss amazing
Julie Shes very special lady, corrie will never be the same #loveyoujules”
Hayley — the first transsexual in a British soap — and Roy have been at the
heart of a string of major storylines.
In 2001 the pair were arrested for kidnapping young abuse victim Wayne Hayes
and Hayley was held on remand until the boy’s mother made a statement.
And in 2003 they were caught in scheming Tracy Barlow’s web of deceit when she
claimed Roy fathered her child in an attempt to steal their savings.
Roy and Hayley agreed to pay Tracy £25,000 for the baby, Patience, but were
later forced to give her up when Tracy revealed Steve McDonald was the dad.
Heartbroken Roy told Tracy to keep the cash and when Patience Cropper was
later renamed Amy Barlow, the Croppers were both made her godparents.
In 2007, Hayley faced more heartache when she discovered she had an adult son,
fathered in a single forgotten liaison when living as Harold.
And in May 2010, she was tricked into going to the Underworld factory by
jailbird Robbie Sloan and threatened by killer Tony Gordon in his vendetta
against Roy.
But none of these bumps in the road stood in the way of Roy and Hayley’s
happiness and the pair, whose first union in 1999 was not legally
recognised, married in August 2010.
More recently, she has had to deal with the arrival of mother-in-law Sylvia
(Stephanie Cole) who was appalled by the discovery of Hayley’s background.
Julie, who is married to actor and writer Ian Kershaw, has had breaks from the
show in the past.
She took time off in 2001 to give birth to daughter Martha Mo and had a year’s
break in 2007 to spend more time with her family.
Executive producer Kieran Roberts said: “Who doesn’t love Hayley Cropper?
“The character’s warmth and decency, spiced with a great sense of fun and
adventure, have put her at the heart of Coronation Street.
“The enduring popularity of, and affection for, Hayley — and of course her
wonderful partnership with Roy — has so much to do with the brilliant way
Julie has brought the character to life on screen for the past 15 years.
“We’ll be sorry to say farewell to Hayley — and to Julie — but we’re planning
a screen exit worthy of one of Coronation Street’s best-loved characters.”
Show chiefs last night denied Julie’s departure was linked to the arrival of
new boss Stuart Blackburn, who joined the soap this week.
The ex-Emmerdale producer is expected to wield the axe in a bid to make his
mark on the show.
![After being told the truth by Hayley Cropper [JULIE HESMONDHALGH], Christian Gatley [ANDREW TURNER] lashes out.](http://mcb777.site/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1653196.main_image.jpg?strip=all)
