When Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh (better known as transgender Hayley Cropper) decided to leave the show back in 2013, she feared she might be committing professional suicide. They thought it was a cop-out. Later that week, Roy proposes to Hayley and she accepts. Rising Stockholm -based designer Jade Cropper is debuting her Fall/Winter 2023 collection in a short film. Before auditioning, the actress was given sketchy details about the character, with one glaring omission: All I knew at first was there's a part going in Coronation Street, she's called Hayley, she's going to work in the factory and she's fun. Briefly, upon her return, there was a difficult situation where she had developed a crush on one of her co-workers in Africa (further reading below). Hayley was alarmed at her friend's rapid deterioration and revealed to a stunned Roy that she wanted to end her own life when the cancer spread, before her morphine dosage was high enough to make her delirious. In her sixteen years as Hayley, Hesmondhalgh wore the same red anorak. On the reaction from the LGBT community: "There's no way either me or Granada see this as a funny subject. Roy and Hayley get married (Image: ITV) Stuart kept popping into the cafe to see Hayley and they developed an innocent flirtation, with the understanding that nothing would happen due to Hayley being married. And you need that. And of course we had to plaster on tons of make-up." In Roy, Hayley had found someone who was similarly set apart from the world around him, and although Roy had trouble expressing his feelings, he greatly enjoyed Hayley's company. She confides in her, telling her that she is frightened of dying. Although he took Hayley's revelation about her sex badly, Roy pursued her to Amsterdam, where she was having the final part of her treatment, and they returned to Weatherfield together as a proper couple. She is terrified of anything that might give her away." When she told her father this, he threw all photographs of "Harold" into the fire and refused to allow her to wear woman's clothes in his presence. The doctor tells Hayley that there is a blockage in her bile duct and Hayley tells Sylvia that she may have cancer and breaks down in her arms. The joke was that Roy Cropper (David Neilson) was going to go on a series . In 2010, following a discussion of the ramifications of their not being legally married, Roy and Hayley decided to make it official. Hayley and Roy were also interested in seeing the world. Initially, it was intended that Hayley would only appear for two months, it was thought that this would help increase ratings as well as show a new side to Roy Cropper (David Neilson). Strange happenings begin occurring in the caf and Roy thinks Beth Tinker (Lisa George) and her family are responsible. (First line, to Curly Watts). By law they were still unwed, but with Hayley changing her surname to "Cropper" by deed poll, they considered themselves a married couple. Roy cannot cope and initially rejects her but realises that their friendship is more important than Hayley's secret. Calling out, Anna and Carla go to the bedroom and, to their shock, find a deceased Hayley on the bed, with Roy's arm around her. Following the death of her aunt Monica in September 2007, Hayley discovers that she has a son, Christian Gatley (Andrew Turner). One instance where this was a problem was when the Croppers were interviewed to assess their suitability as foster parents in December 2000. Hayley credited Carla for being the reason she was still alive, and the two became close, if unlikely, friends. Roy later proposed to Hayley at a fancy-dress disco on St. Valentine's Day 1999. Alex then stunned them by offering to sell Wayne to them for 10,000, which he lowered to 5,000, eager for them to accept. The following day, Christian visits again and is stunned when Christian says she can see the children. Making her character pregnant when Julie fell pregnant in real life wasn't possible for the Corrie script team for obvious reasons - Hayley Cropper was born a man. In September, having recently become closer to thirteen-year-old Sarah Platt and become godmother of her daughter Bethany, Hayley's thoughts turned to children and she suggested to Roy that they adopt. David is 69 years old, and will turn 70 in March 2019. Worried about staff morale should the girls find out, Mike sacked Hayley, but without knowing the reason behind it, the girls demanded her reinstatement and threatened to strike. The characters were first friends and they started a relationship, until Hayley revealed her past history. She decides to tell Fiz about Christian, confusing Roy but he comes round to the idea of Hayley contacting Christian, so she leaves a message on his mobile. There is no answer, so Anna eventually unlocks the door with her spare key and they enter the flat together. For me it's a love story with a beginning, middle, and an end and this is the end.". The character first appeared in the episode first broadcast on 26 January 1998. His bad treatment of her intensified when Roy threw a pint over him in the Rovers Return in retaliation for calling Hayley a freak. Hayley goes for the operation to unblock her bile duct, accompanied by Roy. In desperation, Hayley and Roy hatched a plan to catch a ferry to Ireland, before coming to their senses and opting to turn themselves in and put their faith in the British justice system. It was revealed that Hayley had applied for, and received, her new birth certificate, and so, after some disagreements about the cost and motives for marriage, the plans were made for the wedding. When her family moved to Coronation Street in 2002, they were known as the Nelsons due to being in the witness protection programme. But we wanted the character to live and breathe a bit so that people could get to know her without prejudice. Producer Brian Park: [We] didn't want to be seen as chasing their tails so much. Julie Hesmondhalgh was pleased to be working alongside David Neilson again, believing that he helped her performance: "It's in the costume and the wig and acting with David, who's so brilliant as Roy. Hayley Cropper (also Hayley Patterson) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh. In 2012, she took three months off to appear in Black Roses: The Killing Of Sophie Lancaster at the Royal Exchange Theatre. She is taken care of by paramedics and she and Roy tell one another they love each other before watching the factory blow up, after Tony sets fire to the building, killing himself but Carla manages to untie herself and escapes. In 2003, while Hayley is away, nursing her sick aunt, scheming Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) bets Bev Unwin (Susie Blake) that she can bed the man supposedly least likely to be unfaithful Roy. What is the application of a cascade control system. Roy and Hayley are told that the operation if successful should last six hours. Who was the father of Heather Trotts baby? Eventually, they found a female vicar who would help them, and they were united in a blessing ceremony held in Roy's Rolls on 23 April 1999. Hesmondhalgh: "Since the scene was broadcast when Hayley told Roy I have personally found that people have been very positive. In order to know that Christian's feelings were genuine, Hayley didn't tell him about the cancer, and he delighted her by expressing his regret over hitting her six years prior and informing her that she had two grandchildren, Sam and Maisie. The Croppers' charity work included organising a Christmas lunch for the homeless at the cafe. ", On 11th January 2013, it was announced that Julie Hesmondhalgh would be leaving Coronation Street at the end of her contract in early 2014. There was the wig, of course, I had to have my shoulders built up in my cardigans and there was the ubiquitous polo neck that was supposed to hide my Adam's apple. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Ben's identity as a gay man, from bullied schoolboy to revenge-seeking hardman to fianc, has always been tied to his plot lines and his popularity. When catching up with Tilly, another volunteer, she learns Olaf is not the man she thought he was and decides to stay with Roy. The woman that inspired Coronation Street's Hayley Cropper has spoken publicly about being transgender for the first time. For the duration of. Carla gives Hayley have the time off and Mary lends them her motor home. At that time, they could not legally marry, since Hayley was still seen as a male in the eyes of the law. (Sunday Mirror, 8th March 1998) "The point about transsexuals is that they want to blend in. Realising how close he came to losing Hayley, Roy got down on one knee and proposed marriage instead of a civil partnership, and Hayley accepted without hesitation. At that point, they could not legally marry as under UK law Hayley would be recognised as a man. On 22 January 2014, Hesmondhalgh won "Best Serial Drama Performance" at the National Television Awards. As a wedding present to Roy, Hayley officially changed her name by deed poll to Hayley Anne Cropper. Hayley is called back to the Medical Centre the following week and the doctor tells Hayley that she has abnormal liver function and needs an ultrasound scan for further investigation. Hayley's prognosis was devastating for the Croppers and their close friends, with Roy constantly fussing over her and trying to keep her from tiring herself. As a child, she was lonely due to having no friends or siblings, and felt out of place among the other boys. Christian repeatedly makes inappropriate remarks unintentionally so Roy shouts at him, before taking Hayley home. Roy agrees but he is more concerned with inheritance law, upsetting Hayley, so she moves in with friend Anna Windass (Debbie Rush). Steve and Karen marry, despite Tracy's bombshell, and Karen gets her revenge by gatecrashing the christening. Hayley has a nightmare about being "Harold" again, making her regret the way things ended with her son, Christian. In 2007, Hayley discovered that she had a son, Christian Gatley, fathered before her sex change, and admitted to Roy that she'd lied about being a virgin when they met. Roy didn't believe it until he saw himself sleepwalking on the cafe CCTV footage (which he'd had installed to catch the prankster). If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. (Woman's Own, 15th April 1999), Hayley's relationship with Roy was especially well-received by viewers, despite the actors' initial fears about putting two oddball characters together. After the "wedding" was screened, the Labour Government announced that a Parliamentary Working Group was being created to assess how the UK could grant trans people the legal rights for which they had fought for decades. Why then should this fictional character have a place in any list of famous or influential trans people? However, before they could do so, Ruth shopped them and they were taken into police custody, and Wayne was returned to his parents. Hayley and Roy shared many interests and activities. Hayley's attire and mannerisms were used to subtly hint at her background. Hayley is heartbroken when Becky decides to leave Weatherfield in January 2012 but gets a call a few months later, telling her that she is engaged to her new boyfriend. In most aspects of their lives, they were a team, for example in their volunteer work and becoming first aiders. Long-serving Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh is leaving the soap after 15 years as TV favourite Hayley Cropper. In March 2000, Hayley attracted the attentions of Stuart Leigh, a builder working on the Medical Centre development. Then awaiting the results of her CT scan, Hayley couldn't concentrate at the factory and explained her situation to Carla. On their return, the Croppers discovered that Sylvia had departed the Street to live with her sister. Patience Cropper is renamed Amy Barlow and the Croppers are her godparents. Hayley is delighted to learn that Roy has booked a day off so they can go to Blackpool. On 11 January 2013, it was announced that Hesmondhalgh would leave Coronation Street at the end of her contract. Heather phones the father to tell him he has a son, and it is revealed to be the much younger Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins). The Croppers' problems were forgotten temporarily when the couple discovered that someone had been in the cafe overnight and moved things around, on multiple occasions. Transgender campaigners were initially upset that a cisgender woman had been chosen for the part but later praised Hesmondhalgh's dedication and sensitivity. She was a kind woman who always put others first, at times such that she could be seen as a pushover, as evidenced by doing her colleagues work for them to meet quotas. For Hayley's return to the programme some months later, a communication was established between the production team, including Julie Hesmondhalgh, and a trans advisor, Annie Wallace, associated with Press for Change, the transgender campaign and information group. Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street was a Weatherfield legend. Hayley knew that her past would always be a part of her; immediately on her arrival in the UK, she was stopped by Immigration as she still held a man's passport. We didn't want people to be fearful of her and dislike her for the wrong reasons. In an interview with Hesmondhalgh in August 2015, it was revealed that in tribute to Wallace, the writers gave Hayley's middle name as Anne, and gave her the same birthday, as well as a mutual love for rock music, especially Queen. Roy and his late wife Hayley fostered Wayne back in 2001 in a bid to get him away from his abusive stepfather, but he was eventually returned home leaving the couple devastated. On 20 January 2014, Hayley died in Roy's arms after drinking a lethal cocktail. The doctor revealed to the couple that the chemotherapy was proving ineffective due to the cancer being more aggressive than expected, and Hayley's life expectancy was revised to mere weeks. Fiz and Becky agreed to be bridesmaids, and Mary found the perfect venue: the Shawbrooke Country House Hotel, which had a function room overlooking the East Lancs steam railway. Brian Park: We had hoped for her to be a sympathetic character and we didn't want to make her big and blowsy and looking like Pete Burns." Alma took the news better, and urged Roy to make amends. At the age of 46 years old David made his debut on Coronation Street. When she met Roy in 1998, a kinship was developed as they were both lonely, introspective people. Their first child is teenager Fiz Brown (Jennie McAlpine), who returns to care after falsely claiming that Roy hit her. Hayley was determined to prove herself capable and challenged Gwen Loveday about her shoddy work. It was an emotional time for an emotionally vulnerable woman, which was reflected in her somewhat needy and naive manner in her interactions with her co-workers such as Alma Baldwin. Julie Hesmondhalgh left Coronation Street temporarily in 2001 to give birth to her daughter, Martha Mo. Spurred on by a nightmare in which she was still Harold and had never met Roy, she decided to try and make amends with Christian. All the pain they had gone through was forgotten as Hayley and Roy began a new life with their daughter, whom they named Patience Cropper. This drew the attention of Tracy Barlow, who let the cat out of the bag that Hayley was a transsexual. 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