Coronation Street’s Sally Ann Matthews Breaks Silence on Exit with Touching Tribute

Jenny’s Final Goodbye

Coronation Street fans were left emotional as Jenny Bradley — now Jenny Connor — bowed out of Weatherfield after almost four decades. In Wednesday night’s (October 1) episode, Jenny made the heart-wrenching decision to leave for a fresh start in Tenerife, following a moving farewell with her long-time mother figure, Rita Tanner.

The exit marked the end of an era for Sally Ann Matthews, who first stepped onto the cobbles in 1986 at just 16 years old. After leaving in the early ‘90s and a brief 1993 return, she came back full-time in 2015 and became a central figure, even taking over as landlady of the Rovers Return.Coronation Street's Sally Ann Matthews breaks silence on exit with sweet  move as co-stars declare love - Manchester Evening News

A Sweet Souvenir from the Rovers

After the episode aired, Sally revealed she hadn’t left Weatherfield completely behind. Sharing a post on Instagram, the actress posed with the famous Rovers Return sign — now hanging proudly above her own front door. Captioning the photo with a simple heart emoji, she confirmed she had taken a piece of Corrie history home with her.

The gesture struck a chord with fans, who were thrilled she’d kept such an iconic reminder of her time on the show.

Co-Stars Share Their Love

Messages from her colleagues quickly poured in. Georgia Taylor (Toyah Battersby) commented: “Love this. And love you!!” while Sally Carman-Duttine (Abi Webster) admitted: “Going to miss you Sal.” Samia Longchambon (Maria Windass) responded with heart emojis, and Andy Whyment (Kirk Sutherland) added: “Love it Sal.”Coronation Street's Sally Ann Matthews breaks silence on exit with sweet  move as co-stars declare love - Manchester Evening News

Fans in Tears Over Rita and Jenny’s Farewell

Viewers were equally moved by Jenny’s exit scenes, particularly her emotional goodbye with Rita. One fan wrote: “Those scenes with Rita broke me. You’ll be missed.” Another added: “Seeing Rita at the end broke me. We will miss you Sally, you have been incredible.”

Others called her final moments a “Kleenex moment,” while many praised her decade-long return run as landlady of the Rovers.

The End of an Era — Or Just a Pause?

While Sally has confirmed her departure, fans remain hopeful she may one day return. For now, Jenny’s quiet farewell and Sally’s sweet tribute have cemented her place as one of Corrie’s most memorable icons.