Sally Webster
Encyclopedia
Sally Webster is a fictional character
in the UK television ITV
soap opera
, Coronation Street
. Portrayed by actress Sally Dynevor, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 January 1986.
(Michael Le Vell
). She got neither role, the latter because the girlfriend was meant to be posh. Interviewed for The People's Soap Special, Dynevor spoke about how terrifying her first episode was to film because she had not done any TV work prior to the role and the scene involved one of the show's widely-known characters, Hilda Ogden
(Jean Alexander
).
In September 2009, it was revealed that Sally would fall victim to breast cancer
. Speaking of the plot, Dynevor said: "I do know women who have suffered or are suffering from breast cancer. For the last year, I have been fundraising for breast cancer charities and am a long-standing patron for The Genesis Appeal. So, when I was told about this storyline I was determined to do it justice for all the women out there who are going through what Sally is. A few years ago, I found a lump and was sent to get it checked out straight away. I was lucky that it proved to be nothing but the time spent waiting to find out the results was agonising." A Coronation Street spokesperson added: "Breast cancer is a disease which affects so many women and their families. We are keen to ensure that the storyline accurately reflects the many problems and issues faced by breast cancer sufferers."
In May 2010 it was revealed that at the same time as her character found out that she had cancer, Dynevor herself discovered that hours after filming Sally's cancer revealing scenes, she in real-life was also suffering from the disease.
(Nigel Pivaro
) at Cheap and Cheerful and he makes a pass at her. Kevin catches the two kissing and punches Terry giving him a black eye. Kevin proposes to Sally after learning that his family are moving to Germany
. Sally agrees to marry him despite their vastly different personalities. The couple have a cheap register office wedding.
Sally's family, the Seddons, are dominated by a violent father, and Sally has a chequered past. The couple lodge with Hilda Ogden
(Jean Alexander
), and Sally gradually settles down. Sally is always full of spirit, tends to the bossy side and always wants Kevin to better himself.
In 1987, Sally takes a job at the Corner Shop and she and Kevin move into the flat overhead. Later that year, Hilda leaves the Street, selling No.13 to the couple at a knock-down price. Several times, Sally tries to get Kevin to buy the garage, urging him to become his own boss. Kevin is never that keen on running the place which frustrates Sally no end.
Kevin renews his interest in banger racing and Sally decides that she would like to take up the sport and begins taking driving lessons. She manages to pass her test even though the police stop her half way through as she is driving Alf Roberts
(Bryan Mosley
)’s car, lent to her by Audrey
(Sue Nicholls
), which he’d reported stolen. Sally takes part in her first banger race, which results in her being hospitalised with a broken ankle after the car spins out of control and turns over.
In 1990 Sally falls pregnant and gives birth to a baby girl in the back of Don Brennan (Geoffrey Hinsliff
)’s taxi on Christmas Eve. She names the baby Rosie because the taxi is parked on Rosamund Street.
In 1992 Sally starts to mind David
(Thomas Ormson
) for the Platts. The authorities come down on Sally for not being a registered child-minder when David falls down the stairs at No.13. To combat this, Sally starts to mind both David and Rosie at the Platts’ house but becomes bitter when Gail (Helen Worth
) starts to treat her like a servant.
Sally begins to find other child-minding clients when she becomes fully registered, one of which is the son of Joe Broughton (John Wheatley), whose wife has recently left him. He starts to pester Sally and offers the Websters his cottage in the Lakes for a holiday. He turns up at the cottage and tries to persuade Sally to leave Kevin, saying he is a no-hoper and she deserves better. Sally makes the hard decision to stop childminding for him and tells Kevin about it. Kevin lays into Joe in the Street and he is never seen again.
Sally falls pregnant again in 1994 and “Lauren” (Emma Woodward
) is born in early November. The name “Lauren” doesn’t last long as Rosie always calls her younger sister Sophie
, so she and Kevin both decide to rename her Sophie. Sally then decides that she has had enough of being at home and asks Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
) for a job at his factory in 1996, and she begins working there.
Sally’s mother has a stroke in 1997 and Sally goes to Scarborough to look after her. During this time, Kevin, feeling neglected in Sally's absence, begins an affair with his business partner Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch
). When Sally returns to Weatherfield she feels that something is going on and tracks Kevin down to Natalie’s house and finds them in bed together. Sally throws Kevin out and he goes to stay with Natalie. Sally gets mechanic Chris Collins (Matthew Marsden
) to let her into Natalie’s house, where she turns on the taps and floods it. Natalie threatens Sally with legal action, which leads to the two women brawling on the Street. Sally then has a brief fling with Chris Collins, but by Christmas 1997 the Websters are reunited.
). Kevin finds about the affair and throws Sally out. She moves into Greg's flat over the Corner Shop and agrees with Kevin on a divorce, but not over the custody of the children.
Greg involves Sally in his bid to force Mike Baldwin out of business, and uses her inheritance money as part of his scheme. Greg hits Sally after an argument and she allows the girls to move back into No.13 with Kevin, whilst she goes to stay with close family friend Rita Sullivan
(Barbara Knox
). Sally then wins custody of Rosie and Sophie and briefly rents No. 6, before moving back into No.13 when Kevin disappears. He comes back after 6 weeks having had a breakdown.
In 1999, Sally starts a relationship with market trader Danny Hargreaves (Richard Standing). On the eve of Kevin’s wedding to Alison Wakefield (Naomi Radcliffe
), Sally sleeps with Kevin. She urges Kevin to forget about it and moves Danny into No.13. The pair give up their market stall and open up a hardware shop on Victoria Street – D&S Hardware. In 2001 the couple plan to wed, but Kevin becomes more and more jealous. He vanishes, making Sally anxious as to his whereabouts. It later emerges that he has gone to stay with his sister Debbie (Sue Devaney
). Kevin turns up at Sally’s hen-night and says that he still loves her. Sally confesses to Danny that she and Kevin slept together on the eve of his wedding to Alison, and Danny leaves the Street.
In 2002, Sally suggests to Kevin that he move back into No.13. It would make financial sense and be good for the girls. Kevin eagerly moves in, but is disappointed that he is made to sleep on the sofa. Soon, though, Sally takes him back for good and they plan to remarry. During wedding preparations, Sally develops a crush on Alex the decorator, who is doing some work for them. She nearly leaves Kevin for him. Kevin finds out just before the wedding and assures Sally that he will still marry her. Sally does the right thing for her family and says goodbye to Alex and remarries Kevin.
In May 2003, Sally and Kevin are frantic when Rosie goes missing for the day. She returns home and tells them that she has been to Birmingham for an audition to be in a new girl band. Surprisingly, Sally decides to support her daughter’s thirst for fame. By July Sally’s enthusiasm is bordering on obsession, and when Rosie fails to win a role in the school play, the pushy mother goes to Weatherfield Comp to tackle the drama teacher. When Sally insists on sending Rosie to stage school, Kevin and Sophie begin to feel increasingly ignored. In 2004 Sally lands Rosie an audition at the prestigious Northern Drama Academy, but on the day of the audition Rosie backs out saying that it is all Sally’s dream and not hers.
At the Weatherfield Comprehensive Parent’s Evening, Sally learns that Rosie has an aptitude for maths. Rosie is enrolled at the expensive Oakhill Private School where she can get the best possible education.
Sally’s obsessive behaviour soon overflows into Kevin’s working life at the garage, where she takes it upon herself to make the place more successful. She introduces name badges for her workers, employee of the month, and even goes ahead with a company rebrand and the garage becomes Websters’ Auto-Centre.
). They met at local private school, Oakhill, as Rosie is friends with Ian's daughter. Unfortunately she takes the fling with Ian more seriously than him as he simply uses her as one in a long succession of women. When he finishes with her, she is bitter and resentful as she risked her family for a fling and it stings even more because Kevin knows Sally was unfaithful but is willing to overlook it.
Sally turns her ambitions to her daughter, Rosie. When Rosie expresses a passing interest in being a pop star, Sally pushes her onto the stage where she is miserable. In a particularly humorous event, Sally is indignant when Ken Barlow (William Roache
) misspells Rosie's name in a review of her school show. She pushes Rosie into a posh private school and is unhappy about Rosie dating Craig Harris (Richard Fleeshman
), a local lad whose family has a shady past, (too much like her own). The final straw is discovering that Rosie and Craig are having sex, despite them approaching it sensibly. Sally's emotions and nerves crumble as she takes Rosie on a wild drive across the M62 en route to a boarding school but loses control of the car, nearly killing them both. Kevin catches up and cradles his wife, who confesses about her broken dreams and life in a back street, saying she just wanted more for her children than she had.
In 2007, Sally decides to take an A-Level in English literature and has private lessons with John Stape
(Graeme Hawley
). She develops a crush on him, much to his girlfriend's annoyance. Eventually Sally tells John how she feels and is upset by him not returning her feelings. Rosie walks in and realising Sally is upset, wants to know what is going on and John tells her. John stops giving Sally lessons and a few weeks later, John visits Sally at the factory to discuss Rosie and her boyfriend, Lee. Sally gets something in her eye, and John tries to remove it but they look like they are in a compromising position, just as Fiz and Sean Tully
(Antony Cotton
) enter the factory. Fiz thinks that they are kissing and slaps Sally. It is revealed on Christmas Day 2007 that Rosie and John have been having an affair and after an explosive showdown between Stape and the Websters, Sally slaps Rosie after Rosie accuses Sally of being jealous of her youth.
In mid 2008 the Websters swap houses with the Peacocks due to the latter suffering from financial issues,they move into number 4. Since the move, Sally became extremely house-proud, frequently boasting about the house's conservatory and size compared to other houses on the street.
(Vicky Binns
), wife of his employee and friend Tyrone
(Alan Halsall
). Molly begins taking an interest in the business and shares the bookkeeping with Sally, spending more time with Kevin. Eventually he confesses to Molly that he is infatuated with her and every time he sees her, he wants to bed her. This causes mixed reactions within Molly who slaps him initially but later tells him that she is flattered by his statement. They begin to plot an affair together and after a series of mishaps their chance finally comes when Kevin sneaks away from Sally's birthday party in July and has sex with Molly on her couch. Afterwards, Kevin feels guilty and decides to end the fling before it gets out of hand by persuading Tyrone to take Molly on holiday. They resume their affair, however, in August. Over the following months, Kevin and Molly continue their affair behind their partners' backs.
Kevin's clandestine affair with Molly takes a tragic turn when Sally is diagnosed with breast cancer
. On Christmas Day, just as Kevin is about to tell Sally that he is leaving her for Molly, she breaks down and tells him that she has breast cancer. Kevin immediately ends his relationship with Molly to be by Sally's side during her struggle. After the difficulty of breaking the news to Rosie and Sophie, Sally had a lumpectomy
in January 2010 to remove the growth, which proves successful. She remains off-screen as she stays with her sister, recovering from her treatment. She returns to Weatherfield, fully recovered, on 14 July, celebrating her birthday with her family.
In August 2010, Claire Peacock
(Julia Haworth
) tells Sally and Kevin that she caught Sophie (Brooke Vincent
) kissing best friend, Sian Powers
(Sacha Parkinson
), in her home when they were supposed to be babysitting when Aadi Alahan injures himself. Sally does not believe Claire's version of events until Sophie confesses to Sally that it is true. Sally is shocked by Sophies confession and struggles to accept their sexuality.
In December 2010, Molly, while trapped under rubble following the tram crash, admits her affair with Kevin and that Kevin is the father of her son, Jack, who has been named after Jack Duckworth
(William Tarmey
) by Tyrone. Just after shocking Sally with this revelation, she passes away. Sally confronts Kevin and orders him to tell Tyrone as he does not deserve the trauma that he is going through, as well as telling him to leave and never come back. Sally confides in Rita when she visits her in hospital, as Rita was injured in the crash. Rita suggests that she should move on. Later on, Kevin tries winning her back but she tells him to leave. Rosie and Sophie agree and tell him to leave for good. Tyrone keeps baby Jack. Sally states that seeing him with Jack makes her hate him even more and wants rid of them both. After a desperate plea from Sophie, Sally allows him to stay for Christmas Day. On New Year's Eve, Kevin accepts he's not wanted in his family and that baby Jack is really Tyrone's son and leaves on his own.
Sally kisses Tyrone after the New Year has arrived and they spend the night together. She lies to Kevin, saying that she wants to hurt him because he hurt her when he had the affair with Molly. This ends up with two fights between Kevin and Tyrone. Kevin decides to sell the house and freezes all joint bank accounts. Sally tells Kevin that she lied to him about sleeping with Tyrone to get him back. Kevin and Sally agree to a truce but when Kevin suggests giving their marriage another go and starting a new family, Sally is adamant that she will not have him back.
Sally goes on dates with Jeff (Steve Houghton) after meeting him in The Rovers. However, despite being in a "war" with Kevin, she still turns to him for help, an example of this when Sophie had been booted out of college. After 3 months of war, the Websters are finally reunited when Sophie falls off a church roof in mid-March, but the reunion doesn't last for long, when Sally turns on Kevin for abandoning Sophie when he was picking Jack up. Sian makes them realise their arguing is what caused Sophie to even fall off the roof and they reconcile, but it doesn't even last an evening when Kevin tries to kiss Sally.
Kevin and Sally remain cool to each other for the following few days. However, on the day of the divorce finalist, Kevin wins £200,000 on a scratchcard
. When Tyrone informs Sally of this, she cancels the divorce and vows to get her half. Eventually, she gets the money frozen and has it dealt in court. However, the judge rules in Kev's favour. Kev, though, gives all the money to Sal and gives her a few days to decide. Eventually, she gives half back and the warring Websters call it quits. Jeff, though, determined to win points over Sally, offers her a fortnight in Paris. She accepts and Jeff winds Kevin up about it. Sally apologises for Jeff's attitude and the Websters have a laugh over a drink. A few days later, Sally leaves for Paris with Jeff. However when she returns she finds out that Kevin is injured at the garage and ends up allowing him and baby Jack to move back in with her.
Sally and Kevin are angry when Sophie confesses that she took £20,000 from Kevin's bank account in order to help the homeless charity which Sophie and Sian were working for. Sophie transferred the money into James Cunningham (James Roache
)'s account, who told them that the couple whom the money was for fled with the money. Unknown to everyone, it is revealed that James is a conman who wants to travel to other locations to try the trick again. Kevin calls the police on Sophie but changes his mind at the last minute and tells the police that he transferred the money, and his theft insurance reject him as it was his own mistake. Sally supports Sophie, but Kevin is furious and says he cannot believe that Sophie done what she did and says to her that she owes him £20,000.
In November 2011, Sally is horrified when John Stape
(Graeme Hawley
) returns and kidnaps Rosie. John keeps Rosie tied up in the flat and tells her that she is going to act as a witness during the trial of his wife Fiz Stape (Jenny McAlpine), who is standing trial accused of John's crimes. Rosie eventually escapes after Kevin and Rosie's boyfriend Jason Grimshaw
(Ryan Thomas
) hear her screams and break down the door. John ends up dead after crashing his car into the back of a lorry during a high-speed car chase with Kevin. A furious Sally attends John's funeral, and mocks everything positive which is mentioned about John's personality. John's widow, Fiz, who is handcuffed to guards, confronts Sally and tells her that she's not there just for John, but for their baby daughter, Hope, also. Sally leaves feeling guilty and humiliated.
.
In February 2006, the storyline involving Sally driving Rosie to a moor and scolding her for her unruly behaviour came under criticism from Winnie Johnson, the mother of Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett due to the scenes being filmed at Saddleworth Moor
where her son's body is thought to be buried. Winnie Johnson slammed the storyline by stating, "this is outrageous and plain disgusting. Are they going out of their way to be sick? I lost my son out on those moors but to film a child abduction up there after everything that has happened is a disgrace." A Coronation Street spokesperson defended the storyline by saying that no offence was intended.
Low Culture columnist Ruth Deller praised Sally Dynevor's work on the show during 2010: "It’s all too easy to overlook long-term characters as being worthy of praise, but since Sally Dynevor returned to the Street this year, she has been on fire. Namechecking Mary Queen of Scots, dishing out incredible one-liners, being the stand-out performer in the live episodes and handling the Sophie/Sian and Kevin/Molly situations perfectly, both actress and character have cemented their place in our collective hearts. People like Sally tend to miss out on soap awards and suchlike because they’re always there, but maybe, just maybe her recent work will be noticed and she’ll get some acknowledgement in the next lot of gongs."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the UK television ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. Portrayed by actress Sally Dynevor, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 January 1986.
Casting
Auditions were held for the part of Sally with actress Sally Dynevor securing the role. Sally Dynevor had previously auditioned twice for two different Coronation Street characters. The first was the milkman's eldest daughter, and the second a girlfriend of Kevin WebsterKevin Webster
Kevin John Webster is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Michael Le Vell, the character first appeared onscreen on 19 October 1983...
(Michael Le Vell
Michael Le Vell
Michael Le Vell is an English character actor, who since 1983 has played the role of garage mechanic, Kevin Webster, in the soap opera Coronation Street....
). She got neither role, the latter because the girlfriend was meant to be posh. Interviewed for The People's Soap Special, Dynevor spoke about how terrifying her first episode was to film because she had not done any TV work prior to the role and the scene involved one of the show's widely-known characters, Hilda Ogden
Hilda Ogden
Hilda Alice Ogden is a fictional character from the television series Coronation Street, one of the best-known of all the regular characters in the soap opera, whose name became synonymous with a certain type of working-class woman...
(Jean Alexander
Jean Alexander
Jean Alexander is a BAFTA Nominated English television actress. She is best known to British television viewers as Hilda Ogden on the soap opera Coronation Street, a role she played from 1964–1987 and also as Auntie Wainwright on the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 1988 to 2010...
).
Development
In a 2008 interview with newspaper The People, Sally Dynevor expressed her delight with Sally's ever evolving personality: "After more than 20 years, I still get the same pang of excitement over a good script as I did when I first joined the show. Sally meddles in everyone else's business and thinks she is so much better than the rest of them but really she is just the same. There aren't many dull moments. Sally is a fabulous character and I know I am so lucky to play her. All those years ago when I started she wasn't like this so I am so pleased that the producers have made her change. It has only been over the last five years that she has turned into a right cow. That is brilliant because it means I can show what I can do as an actress. I know some viewers hate her, others love her, but I am pleased she is talked about. I hope she carries on being like this for a very long time to come."In September 2009, it was revealed that Sally would fall victim to breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Speaking of the plot, Dynevor said: "I do know women who have suffered or are suffering from breast cancer. For the last year, I have been fundraising for breast cancer charities and am a long-standing patron for The Genesis Appeal. So, when I was told about this storyline I was determined to do it justice for all the women out there who are going through what Sally is. A few years ago, I found a lump and was sent to get it checked out straight away. I was lucky that it proved to be nothing but the time spent waiting to find out the results was agonising." A Coronation Street spokesperson added: "Breast cancer is a disease which affects so many women and their families. We are keen to ensure that the storyline accurately reflects the many problems and issues faced by breast cancer sufferers."
In May 2010 it was revealed that at the same time as her character found out that she had cancer, Dynevor herself discovered that hours after filming Sally's cancer revealing scenes, she in real-life was also suffering from the disease.
1986–1997
Sally first appears as a teenager in 1986 when she meets Kevin Webster. He accidentally drenches her when driving through a puddle. He offers her a lift home so she can change and they begin dating. Sally takes a job answering the phone for Terry DuckworthTerry Duckworth
Terrence Edgar "Terry" Duckworth is a fictional character from the soap opera Coronation Street, played by Nigel Pivaro. He was introduced as the son of popular characters Jack and Vera Duckworth, making his on-screen debut on August 1, 1983. Terry has three sons: Paul, Tommy, and Brad...
(Nigel Pivaro
Nigel Pivaro
Nigel Pivaro is an English journalist who as an actor was best known for playing Terry Duckworth, the son of Vera and Jack Duckworth in Coronation Street.- Career :Pivaro was born in Manchester, England...
) at Cheap and Cheerful and he makes a pass at her. Kevin catches the two kissing and punches Terry giving him a black eye. Kevin proposes to Sally after learning that his family are moving to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Sally agrees to marry him despite their vastly different personalities. The couple have a cheap register office wedding.
Sally's family, the Seddons, are dominated by a violent father, and Sally has a chequered past. The couple lodge with Hilda Ogden
Hilda Ogden
Hilda Alice Ogden is a fictional character from the television series Coronation Street, one of the best-known of all the regular characters in the soap opera, whose name became synonymous with a certain type of working-class woman...
(Jean Alexander
Jean Alexander
Jean Alexander is a BAFTA Nominated English television actress. She is best known to British television viewers as Hilda Ogden on the soap opera Coronation Street, a role she played from 1964–1987 and also as Auntie Wainwright on the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 1988 to 2010...
), and Sally gradually settles down. Sally is always full of spirit, tends to the bossy side and always wants Kevin to better himself.
In 1987, Sally takes a job at the Corner Shop and she and Kevin move into the flat overhead. Later that year, Hilda leaves the Street, selling No.13 to the couple at a knock-down price. Several times, Sally tries to get Kevin to buy the garage, urging him to become his own boss. Kevin is never that keen on running the place which frustrates Sally no end.
Kevin renews his interest in banger racing and Sally decides that she would like to take up the sport and begins taking driving lessons. She manages to pass her test even though the police stop her half way through as she is driving Alf Roberts
Alf Roberts
Alfred Sidney "Alf" Roberts was a fictional character in the British ITV soap Coronation Street. He ran a grocery shop at No. 15 and was heavily involved in local politics, including two spells as mayor of Weatherfield...
(Bryan Mosley
Bryan Mosley
Bryan Mosley OBE was a British actor, known best as grocer Alf Roberts in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street.- Early life :...
)’s car, lent to her by Audrey
Audrey Roberts
Audrey Roberts is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Sue Nicholls, the character first appeared during the episode aired on 16 April 1979....
(Sue Nicholls
Sue Nicholls
Susan Frances Harmar Nicholls is an English actress, best known today for her long-running role as Audrey Roberts in British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
), which he’d reported stolen. Sally takes part in her first banger race, which results in her being hospitalised with a broken ankle after the car spins out of control and turns over.
In 1990 Sally falls pregnant and gives birth to a baby girl in the back of Don Brennan (Geoffrey Hinsliff
Geoffrey Hinsliff
Geoffrey Hinsliff is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Don Brennan in Coronation Street from 16 August 1987 to 8 October 1997. He had previously played other characters in the same programme, in 1963 and 1977....
)’s taxi on Christmas Eve. She names the baby Rosie because the taxi is parked on Rosamund Street.
In 1992 Sally starts to mind David
David Platt (Coronation Street)
David Daniel Platt is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 26 December 1990 and is portrayed by actor Jack P...
(Thomas Ormson
Thomas Ormson
Thomas Ormson is a young English actor who played David Platt on Coronation Street from 1990 to 2000. He acted along with Sean Wilson, Helen Worth, Lynsay King, Emma Collinge and Adam Rickitt.In 2000 Jack P. Shepherd took over the role....
) for the Platts. The authorities come down on Sally for not being a registered child-minder when David falls down the stairs at No.13. To combat this, Sally starts to mind both David and Rosie at the Platts’ house but becomes bitter when Gail (Helen Worth
Helen Worth
Helen Worth is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of the Coronation Street character Gail McIntyre- Early life :...
) starts to treat her like a servant.
Sally begins to find other child-minding clients when she becomes fully registered, one of which is the son of Joe Broughton (John Wheatley), whose wife has recently left him. He starts to pester Sally and offers the Websters his cottage in the Lakes for a holiday. He turns up at the cottage and tries to persuade Sally to leave Kevin, saying he is a no-hoper and she deserves better. Sally makes the hard decision to stop childminding for him and tells Kevin about it. Kevin lays into Joe in the Street and he is never seen again.
Sally falls pregnant again in 1994 and “Lauren” (Emma Woodward
Emma Woodward
-Career:Woodward was born in Whitefield, in Bury, Greater Manchester. She played the part of Sophie Webster on the popular ITV soap Coronation Street from 1997 to April 2004. She took over from Ashleigh Middleton. In 2004 Brooke Vincent took over the role of Sophie.-Personal life:Emma was born...
) is born in early November. The name “Lauren” doesn’t last long as Rosie always calls her younger sister Sophie
Sophie Webster
Sophie Lauren Webster is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She is currently portrayed by actress Brooke Vincent, after previously being portrayed by both Ashleigh Middleton and Emma Woodward. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode...
, so she and Kevin both decide to rename her Sophie. Sally then decides that she has had enough of being at home and asks Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
Johnny Briggs (actor)
Johnny Briggs, MBE is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he appeared from 1976 to 2006...
) for a job at his factory in 1996, and she begins working there.
Sally’s mother has a stroke in 1997 and Sally goes to Scarborough to look after her. During this time, Kevin, feeling neglected in Sally's absence, begins an affair with his business partner Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Healy is an English actress, dancer and television presenter.-Early life:Denise Welch was born in Ebchester, County Durham, to father Vin and mother Ann and has a younger sister Debbie...
). When Sally returns to Weatherfield she feels that something is going on and tracks Kevin down to Natalie’s house and finds them in bed together. Sally throws Kevin out and he goes to stay with Natalie. Sally gets mechanic Chris Collins (Matthew Marsden
Matthew Marsden
Matthew Marsden is an English actor and singer. In the United Kingdom he is widely remembered for playing the character Chris Collins in the popular soap opera, Coronation Street. However, he is best known in the USA as a film actor. He has played the roles of Paris in Helen of Troy, Dr...
) to let her into Natalie’s house, where she turns on the taps and floods it. Natalie threatens Sally with legal action, which leads to the two women brawling on the Street. Sally then has a brief fling with Chris Collins, but by Christmas 1997 the Websters are reunited.
1998–2004
Sally’s mother Elsie dies in 1998, leaving Sally with a £50,000 inheritance. Kevin hopes that she will use the money to buy Natalie out of the garage but Sally refuses, telling him that it is her money and not his. She agrees to a family holiday to Florida but by the time they have returned she has had enough of Kevin. She embarks on an affair with Greg Kelly (Stephen BillingtonStephen Billington
Stephen Billington is a British actor, best known for playing Greg Kelly in Coronation Street . He has worked with many leading film directors, including Peter Greenaway, Franco Zeffirelli, and Mel Gibson...
). Kevin finds about the affair and throws Sally out. She moves into Greg's flat over the Corner Shop and agrees with Kevin on a divorce, but not over the custody of the children.
Greg involves Sally in his bid to force Mike Baldwin out of business, and uses her inheritance money as part of his scheme. Greg hits Sally after an argument and she allows the girls to move back into No.13 with Kevin, whilst she goes to stay with close family friend Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan is a long-standing character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
(Barbara Knox
Barbara Knox
Barbara Knox, MBE , is an English actress, best known for playing Rita Sullivan in the television soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:Knox was born in Oldham, Lancashire...
). Sally then wins custody of Rosie and Sophie and briefly rents No. 6, before moving back into No.13 when Kevin disappears. He comes back after 6 weeks having had a breakdown.
In 1999, Sally starts a relationship with market trader Danny Hargreaves (Richard Standing). On the eve of Kevin’s wedding to Alison Wakefield (Naomi Radcliffe
Naomi Radcliffe
Naomi Radcliffe is an English actress. She was born in Oldham, Lancashire to Albert Radcliffe—a Canon of Manchester Cathedral—and Petrina, a teacher. She was educated at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, having not been accepted on her first attempt.Her first professional stage...
), Sally sleeps with Kevin. She urges Kevin to forget about it and moves Danny into No.13. The pair give up their market stall and open up a hardware shop on Victoria Street – D&S Hardware. In 2001 the couple plan to wed, but Kevin becomes more and more jealous. He vanishes, making Sally anxious as to his whereabouts. It later emerges that he has gone to stay with his sister Debbie (Sue Devaney
Sue Devaney
Sue Devaney is an English actress. She has played various roles on British television including; Debbie Webster in Coronation Street, Rita Briggs in Jonny Briggs, Liz Harker in Casualty and Jane in dinnerladies...
). Kevin turns up at Sally’s hen-night and says that he still loves her. Sally confesses to Danny that she and Kevin slept together on the eve of his wedding to Alison, and Danny leaves the Street.
In 2002, Sally suggests to Kevin that he move back into No.13. It would make financial sense and be good for the girls. Kevin eagerly moves in, but is disappointed that he is made to sleep on the sofa. Soon, though, Sally takes him back for good and they plan to remarry. During wedding preparations, Sally develops a crush on Alex the decorator, who is doing some work for them. She nearly leaves Kevin for him. Kevin finds out just before the wedding and assures Sally that he will still marry her. Sally does the right thing for her family and says goodbye to Alex and remarries Kevin.
In May 2003, Sally and Kevin are frantic when Rosie goes missing for the day. She returns home and tells them that she has been to Birmingham for an audition to be in a new girl band. Surprisingly, Sally decides to support her daughter’s thirst for fame. By July Sally’s enthusiasm is bordering on obsession, and when Rosie fails to win a role in the school play, the pushy mother goes to Weatherfield Comp to tackle the drama teacher. When Sally insists on sending Rosie to stage school, Kevin and Sophie begin to feel increasingly ignored. In 2004 Sally lands Rosie an audition at the prestigious Northern Drama Academy, but on the day of the audition Rosie backs out saying that it is all Sally’s dream and not hers.
At the Weatherfield Comprehensive Parent’s Evening, Sally learns that Rosie has an aptitude for maths. Rosie is enrolled at the expensive Oakhill Private School where she can get the best possible education.
Sally’s obsessive behaviour soon overflows into Kevin’s working life at the garage, where she takes it upon herself to make the place more successful. She introduces name badges for her workers, employee of the month, and even goes ahead with a company rebrand and the garage becomes Websters’ Auto-Centre.
2005–08
Sally, looking for something challenging in the employment stakes, takes a job as personal assistant to prosperous garage owner, Ian Davenport (Philip BrethertonPhilip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton is an English actor best known for his role as Alistair Deacon in the British television series As Time Goes By....
). They met at local private school, Oakhill, as Rosie is friends with Ian's daughter. Unfortunately she takes the fling with Ian more seriously than him as he simply uses her as one in a long succession of women. When he finishes with her, she is bitter and resentful as she risked her family for a fling and it stings even more because Kevin knows Sally was unfaithful but is willing to overlook it.
Sally turns her ambitions to her daughter, Rosie. When Rosie expresses a passing interest in being a pop star, Sally pushes her onto the stage where she is miserable. In a particularly humorous event, Sally is indignant when Ken Barlow (William Roache
William Roache
William Patrick Harry Roache MBE is a British actor, best known for his role as Ken Barlow in the soap opera Coronation Street...
) misspells Rosie's name in a review of her school show. She pushes Rosie into a posh private school and is unhappy about Rosie dating Craig Harris (Richard Fleeshman
Richard Fleeshman
Richard Jonathan Fleeshman is an English actor and singer-songwriter. His television career began as a twelve year old, playing Craig Harris for four years in Coronation Street and most recently "All The Small Things"...
), a local lad whose family has a shady past, (too much like her own). The final straw is discovering that Rosie and Craig are having sex, despite them approaching it sensibly. Sally's emotions and nerves crumble as she takes Rosie on a wild drive across the M62 en route to a boarding school but loses control of the car, nearly killing them both. Kevin catches up and cradles his wife, who confesses about her broken dreams and life in a back street, saying she just wanted more for her children than she had.
In 2007, Sally decides to take an A-Level in English literature and has private lessons with John Stape
John Stape
John Stape is a fictional character from the British soap opera, Coronation Street, played by actor Graeme Hawley. He made his first on-screen appearance during the episode airing on 6 May 2007. The character departed on 3 June 2011 after four years on the show...
(Graeme Hawley
Graeme Hawley
Graeme Hawley is an English actor known for his role as John Stape in the British soap Coronation Street.-Career:He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1996 with a degree in Drama before beginning his acting career in the theatre.He started his career off by performing on stage at...
). She develops a crush on him, much to his girlfriend's annoyance. Eventually Sally tells John how she feels and is upset by him not returning her feelings. Rosie walks in and realising Sally is upset, wants to know what is going on and John tells her. John stops giving Sally lessons and a few weeks later, John visits Sally at the factory to discuss Rosie and her boyfriend, Lee. Sally gets something in her eye, and John tries to remove it but they look like they are in a compromising position, just as Fiz and Sean Tully
Sean Tully
Sean Tully, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Antony Cotton, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 13 July 2003. Sean works as a factory machinist, and as a part-time barman in the Rovers Return...
(Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton is an English actor and singer best known for his roles in Coronation Street and the original UK version of Queer as Folk.-Early and personal life:...
) enter the factory. Fiz thinks that they are kissing and slaps Sally. It is revealed on Christmas Day 2007 that Rosie and John have been having an affair and after an explosive showdown between Stape and the Websters, Sally slaps Rosie after Rosie accuses Sally of being jealous of her youth.
In mid 2008 the Websters swap houses with the Peacocks due to the latter suffering from financial issues,they move into number 4. Since the move, Sally became extremely house-proud, frequently boasting about the house's conservatory and size compared to other houses on the street.
2009—
During mid 2009, Kevin becomes attracted to Molly DobbsMolly Dobbs
Molly Cosette Dobbs is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Binns, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 5 September 2005. On 7 May 2010, Binns announced she was quitting the soap...
(Vicky Binns
Vicky Binns
Victoria Jane "Vicky" Binns is an English actress who is best known for her two roles in the two veteran ITV soap operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street respectively. She had a lead role in 'Von trapped' opposite Caroline Quentine and also appeared in Children's Ward playing a character named...
), wife of his employee and friend Tyrone
Tyrone Dobbs
Tyrone Sylvester Dobbs is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by Alan Halsall, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on November 30, 1998.- Casting :...
(Alan Halsall
Alan Halsall
Alan David Halsall is an English actor best known for playing Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street, a role which he has played for since 1998.-Early life:...
). Molly begins taking an interest in the business and shares the bookkeeping with Sally, spending more time with Kevin. Eventually he confesses to Molly that he is infatuated with her and every time he sees her, he wants to bed her. This causes mixed reactions within Molly who slaps him initially but later tells him that she is flattered by his statement. They begin to plot an affair together and after a series of mishaps their chance finally comes when Kevin sneaks away from Sally's birthday party in July and has sex with Molly on her couch. Afterwards, Kevin feels guilty and decides to end the fling before it gets out of hand by persuading Tyrone to take Molly on holiday. They resume their affair, however, in August. Over the following months, Kevin and Molly continue their affair behind their partners' backs.
Kevin's clandestine affair with Molly takes a tragic turn when Sally is diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. On Christmas Day, just as Kevin is about to tell Sally that he is leaving her for Molly, she breaks down and tells him that she has breast cancer. Kevin immediately ends his relationship with Molly to be by Sally's side during her struggle. After the difficulty of breaking the news to Rosie and Sophie, Sally had a lumpectomy
Lumpectomy
Lumpectomy is a common surgical procedure designed to remove a discrete lump, usually a benign tumor or breast cancer, from an affected man or woman's breast...
in January 2010 to remove the growth, which proves successful. She remains off-screen as she stays with her sister, recovering from her treatment. She returns to Weatherfield, fully recovered, on 14 July, celebrating her birthday with her family.
In August 2010, Claire Peacock
Claire Peacock
Claire Peacock , is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Julia Haworth, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 9 April 2003, as the new nanny of established character Ashley Peacock's son Joshua...
(Julia Haworth
Julia Haworth
Julia Louise Haworth is an English actress best known as Claire Peacock on ITV's Coronation Street, a role she has played since 2003...
) tells Sally and Kevin that she caught Sophie (Brooke Vincent
Brooke Vincent
Brooke Levi Vincent is an actress in the British soap opera Coronation Street. She joined the soap in 2004, taking over from Emma Woodward in the role of Sophie Webster.- Career :...
) kissing best friend, Sian Powers
Sian Powers
Sian Powers is a fictional character on the UK soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by actress Sacha Parkinson. Sian was introduced as a love interest for Sophie Webster . Sian joined the cast of Coronation Street alongside Ben Richardson in early 2009 as Sophie's schoolmates...
(Sacha Parkinson
Sacha Parkinson
Sacha Louise Parkinson is a British actress best known for playing Sian Powers in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street from January 2009 onwards. Her character will leave the show in January 2012.-Career:...
), in her home when they were supposed to be babysitting when Aadi Alahan injures himself. Sally does not believe Claire's version of events until Sophie confesses to Sally that it is true. Sally is shocked by Sophies confession and struggles to accept their sexuality.
In December 2010, Molly, while trapped under rubble following the tram crash, admits her affair with Kevin and that Kevin is the father of her son, Jack, who has been named after Jack Duckworth
Jack Duckworth
John Harold "Jack" Duckworth is a long-standing fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. He is played by actor William Tarmey. The character debuted onscreen during the episode...
(William Tarmey
William Tarmey
Bill Tarmey is an English actor, singer and author, best known for playing Jack Duckworth on the soap opera Coronation Street. First appearing in the role in 1979, he played it continuously from 1983 to 2010.-Life and career:Tarmey was born in Ardwick, Manchester...
) by Tyrone. Just after shocking Sally with this revelation, she passes away. Sally confronts Kevin and orders him to tell Tyrone as he does not deserve the trauma that he is going through, as well as telling him to leave and never come back. Sally confides in Rita when she visits her in hospital, as Rita was injured in the crash. Rita suggests that she should move on. Later on, Kevin tries winning her back but she tells him to leave. Rosie and Sophie agree and tell him to leave for good. Tyrone keeps baby Jack. Sally states that seeing him with Jack makes her hate him even more and wants rid of them both. After a desperate plea from Sophie, Sally allows him to stay for Christmas Day. On New Year's Eve, Kevin accepts he's not wanted in his family and that baby Jack is really Tyrone's son and leaves on his own.
Sally kisses Tyrone after the New Year has arrived and they spend the night together. She lies to Kevin, saying that she wants to hurt him because he hurt her when he had the affair with Molly. This ends up with two fights between Kevin and Tyrone. Kevin decides to sell the house and freezes all joint bank accounts. Sally tells Kevin that she lied to him about sleeping with Tyrone to get him back. Kevin and Sally agree to a truce but when Kevin suggests giving their marriage another go and starting a new family, Sally is adamant that she will not have him back.
Sally goes on dates with Jeff (Steve Houghton) after meeting him in The Rovers. However, despite being in a "war" with Kevin, she still turns to him for help, an example of this when Sophie had been booted out of college. After 3 months of war, the Websters are finally reunited when Sophie falls off a church roof in mid-March, but the reunion doesn't last for long, when Sally turns on Kevin for abandoning Sophie when he was picking Jack up. Sian makes them realise their arguing is what caused Sophie to even fall off the roof and they reconcile, but it doesn't even last an evening when Kevin tries to kiss Sally.
Kevin and Sally remain cool to each other for the following few days. However, on the day of the divorce finalist, Kevin wins £200,000 on a scratchcard
Scratchcard
A scratchcard is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can...
. When Tyrone informs Sally of this, she cancels the divorce and vows to get her half. Eventually, she gets the money frozen and has it dealt in court. However, the judge rules in Kev's favour. Kev, though, gives all the money to Sal and gives her a few days to decide. Eventually, she gives half back and the warring Websters call it quits. Jeff, though, determined to win points over Sally, offers her a fortnight in Paris. She accepts and Jeff winds Kevin up about it. Sally apologises for Jeff's attitude and the Websters have a laugh over a drink. A few days later, Sally leaves for Paris with Jeff. However when she returns she finds out that Kevin is injured at the garage and ends up allowing him and baby Jack to move back in with her.
Sally and Kevin are angry when Sophie confesses that she took £20,000 from Kevin's bank account in order to help the homeless charity which Sophie and Sian were working for. Sophie transferred the money into James Cunningham (James Roache
James Roache
James Roache is a British actor and is perhaps best known for his roles in Coronation Street as Ken Barlow's long-lost grandson James, or as his father William Roache in BBC drama The Road to Coronation Street....
)'s account, who told them that the couple whom the money was for fled with the money. Unknown to everyone, it is revealed that James is a conman who wants to travel to other locations to try the trick again. Kevin calls the police on Sophie but changes his mind at the last minute and tells the police that he transferred the money, and his theft insurance reject him as it was his own mistake. Sally supports Sophie, but Kevin is furious and says he cannot believe that Sophie done what she did and says to her that she owes him £20,000.
In November 2011, Sally is horrified when John Stape
John Stape
John Stape is a fictional character from the British soap opera, Coronation Street, played by actor Graeme Hawley. He made his first on-screen appearance during the episode airing on 6 May 2007. The character departed on 3 June 2011 after four years on the show...
(Graeme Hawley
Graeme Hawley
Graeme Hawley is an English actor known for his role as John Stape in the British soap Coronation Street.-Career:He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1996 with a degree in Drama before beginning his acting career in the theatre.He started his career off by performing on stage at...
) returns and kidnaps Rosie. John keeps Rosie tied up in the flat and tells her that she is going to act as a witness during the trial of his wife Fiz Stape (Jenny McAlpine), who is standing trial accused of John's crimes. Rosie eventually escapes after Kevin and Rosie's boyfriend Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ryan Thomas, the character first appeared during the episode airing on 25 December 2000, when he comes looking for mother Eileen at the Battersbys' home.Jason is very much the...
(Ryan Thomas
Ryan Thomas
Ryan James Thomas and is an English actor who is currently starring as the character, Jason Grimshaw on ITV's Coronation Street.-Career:...
) hear her screams and break down the door. John ends up dead after crashing his car into the back of a lorry during a high-speed car chase with Kevin. A furious Sally attends John's funeral, and mocks everything positive which is mentioned about John's personality. John's widow, Fiz, who is handcuffed to guards, confronts Sally and tells her that she's not there just for John, but for their baby daughter, Hope, also. Sally leaves feeling guilty and humiliated.
Critical response
Dynevor was nominated in the category of "Best Actress" at the 2011 British Soap AwardsBritish Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
.
In February 2006, the storyline involving Sally driving Rosie to a moor and scolding her for her unruly behaviour came under criticism from Winnie Johnson, the mother of Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett due to the scenes being filmed at Saddleworth Moor
Saddleworth Moor
Saddleworth Moor is an area of the South Pennines in northern England. It is a sparsely populated moorland and millstone grit divided between the metropolitan boroughs of Oldham and Kirklees, in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire respectively....
where her son's body is thought to be buried. Winnie Johnson slammed the storyline by stating, "this is outrageous and plain disgusting. Are they going out of their way to be sick? I lost my son out on those moors but to film a child abduction up there after everything that has happened is a disgrace." A Coronation Street spokesperson defended the storyline by saying that no offence was intended.
Low Culture columnist Ruth Deller praised Sally Dynevor's work on the show during 2010: "It’s all too easy to overlook long-term characters as being worthy of praise, but since Sally Dynevor returned to the Street this year, she has been on fire. Namechecking Mary Queen of Scots, dishing out incredible one-liners, being the stand-out performer in the live episodes and handling the Sophie/Sian and Kevin/Molly situations perfectly, both actress and character have cemented their place in our collective hearts. People like Sally tend to miss out on soap awards and suchlike because they’re always there, but maybe, just maybe her recent work will be noticed and she’ll get some acknowledgement in the next lot of gongs."