Sally Dynevor would play Sally’s cancer storyline in Coronation Street differently after own diagnosis

Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) has been an icon on the cobbles since 1986, and has been involved in some of Coronation Street’s biggest storylines over the years.

However, Sally Dynevor has revealed that there is one major story she would have played differently.

Since first appearing on the ITV soap, Sally Metcalfe has provided plenty of laughs, as well as a strong allyship for the LGBTQ+ community.

She has been married twice – first to Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell), and now to Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) – and even ran for mayor.

However, she has also been at the heart of some harrowing storylines, including a domestic abuse plot and a cancer story.

The health storyline saw Sally diagnosed with breast cancer, and followed the character as she came to terms with her diagnosis. Viewers saw her confide in family members and close friends, and were over the moon when she got the all-clear the following year.

What fans may not know is that in 2009, actress Sally was also diagnosed with breast cancer at age 46.

She received the diagnosis on the same day she filmed the scene where character Sally confided her diagnosis in husband Kevin.

The scene aired on Christmas Day 2009 and was an emotional one – though Sally has now admitted that she would have played things differently, having experienced her own cancer journey.

‘I think there are moments in the show that, like the breast cancer storyline, which, if I went back, I think I would have done very differently,’ she told Prima.

‘In the sense that because I got it myself, I realised what it was like to go through breast cancer and how much you hide your pain from people you love.

‘I think I didn’t play it that way. I played it that Sally was very emotional and upset, and I think that now I would have gone back and played it completely differently because real-life experiences make you go, “Ah, I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have done this”.’

Sally went on to praise the show and admitted that she doesn’t think she’ll ever retire, as she reflected on 40 years of Sally Metcalfe.

‘When you love what you do, why would you want to retire?’ She asked the publication.

Sally’s on-screen alter ego is still at the heart of Weatherfield’s goings-on today, having been a major player in organising Carla and Lisa Connor-Swain’s (Alison King and Vicky Myers) wedding reception.

In the past year, she has been involved in a fostering storyline, which saw her and husband Tim become the guardians of the Michaelis children when parents Lou and Mick were sent to prison.

She has also been trying hard to help Tim see that a relationship he had in his childhood was actually grooming – something that he is beginning to grasp since the exposure of Megan Walsh’s (Beth Nixon) abuse of Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale).

It sounds like Sally is keen to continue playing the role for a long time to come, so we can’t wait to see what the future holds for the character!