10 Questions for Jane Danson

Jane has starred in Coronation Street since 1997 with just a couple of short breaks. Her character, Leanne, arrived as part of the dysfunctional Battersby family, and her troubled Street life has involved drug addiction, prostitution and fraud. Jane is married to former Brookside and Coronation Street actor Robert Beck, and they have two sons.

IN THIS WEEK’S STORYLINE LEANNE IS EXPECTING. IS THIS

TO COVER A REAL LIFE PREGNANCY?

No. I’m definitely not pregnant, at least I don’t think I am (laughs). Leanne is torn as she’s always wanted her own baby and this could be her only chance. But who is the father?

DO YOU KNOW?

It could be one of several characters. We get the scripts every week and only find out what’s happening for the next few episodes. I can plant seeds with the scriptwriters but ultimately it’s out of my hands.

DO YOU KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF YOUR

FELLOW BATTERSBYS?

I’ve lost touch with “mum and dad” but I keep in touch with Georgia Taylor who played my sister Toyah.

WHAT’S THE ODDEST THING A VIEWER HAS

SAID TO YOU?

One fan of the programme told me I looked quite like Leanne but that she is thinner and taller.

EVER TAKEN A PROP FROM THE SET AS A SOUVENIR?

I just may have nicked the odd beer mat from the Rovers over the years. You don’t want to take sweets from the Kabin, though. They’ve been there for years.

WHAT OTHER ROLE DOES THE ACTRESS IN YOU CRAVE?

I would love to do a musical. Any musical. I can hold a tune and my roots are in music.

NEXT YEAR YOU’LL HAVE BEEN IN CORRIE HALF YOUR LIFE.

SCARY?

When you put it like that then, yes. But I’m also happy about it because I still get excited going in to work, and we get new actors all the time to work with.

PLEASED NOT TO BE GOING TO AUDITIONS EVERY WEEK?

Oh, yes. I don’t miss them. In my early career I auditioned for Emmerdale and it was awful. I was much too

young for the part.

ARE YOUR KIDS IMPRESSED BY MUM

BEING ON TELLY?

They’re not that fussed, but they get embarrassed when we’re out and

people ask for selfies or something.

YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO LIVE. HOW

DO YOU SPEND THE TIME?

I keep dreaming I can fly, so I’d like to do a skydive. In reality I’d probably have a heart attack before I even left the plane because I’m a real wimp.