BREAKING SH0CKING NEWS: Coronation Street legend Sally Ann Matthews BRUTALLY A✕ED by ITV after 39 years with sh0cking Reason!

The legendary actress joined the soap in 1986 and has been in the role for 39 years (Image: ITV)

Sally Ann Matthews has reportedly been axed from Coronation Street after 39 years. The icon is known for her role as Jenny Connor in the long-running ITV soap. According to The Sun, Sally has been left “devastated by the decision.” The publication reported that a source said: “Sal’s devastated by the decision. She was central to the soap for so long as Rovers landlady but bosses wanted to go in a new direction. Her late-night Instagram rants haven’t helped matters, but ultimately it was a story-led decision by the team. The writing was very much on the wall when Jenny lost the Rovers, but an exciting exit has been planned for her.”

Express Online has contacted ITV and a representative of Sally Ann Matthews for comment.

Sally Ann Matthews joined the soap in 1986 (Image: ITV)

Sally Ann made her debut as Jenny Connor in 1986 and made a return in 2006, which was only meant to be for a few months. However, her character ended up staying for over a decade and has become a central figure in the ITV show.

The source also said: “Sal’s Corrie royalty through and through and the decision hasn’t gone down well. There’s a lot of people going to be sitting there worried about their own futures.”

It comes after it was reported that ITV will axe one in 10 stars on Emmerdale and Coronation Street due to budget cuts.

The network’s profits have reportedly dipped by 44% to £99 million over the first half of 2025, meaning a renewed push to rein in production costs.

Coronation Street currently employs 84 permanent cast members, while Emmerdale has 70. Sources have previously claimed that executives are now urging soap producers to slash their growing budgets, with cast numbers a vital area under review.

A source previously said: “It’s brutal. We’ve known it was on the cards for a while, but they’re really cranking it up now and it’s across the soaps.

“They’re looking to save millions and Corrie and Emmerdale are the obvious places. They’re very expensive shows.

“Many who have been there for a long time are reliant on their income staying as it is. The amount of cast has spiralled out of control, and focusing on dialogue, not action, could also save money.”