‘We still feel quite fragile’
Corrie legend Jane Danson on returning to work…
When the pandemic started, did you think it might be the end for The Street? We all felt quite fragile a few months ago and we still do. None of us knew what was going to happen but we were reassured we’d be back up and running when it was safe to do so. It was a scary time but the measures the team have put in place have made us feel like we’ve got a nice warm blanket around us. What was it like going to the studio for the first time? That’s the thing about Corrie, it’s normally buzzing with so many different teams and I think myself and Georgia [Taylor, who plays Toyah] were the first people back through the doors. It felt quite eerie but also comforting because I was going back through the doors with my best friend. I hear there is a man with a very large pole who is intent on keeping you all apart? We were told that there would be managers of each team with a two-metre pole which we thought was a bit of a joke – it’s not! But it does remind you what two metres is. I’ve been guilty of thinking I am two metres away from someone but when you see the pole you realise that two metres is quite a distance.
You’re back with Ben Price [Nick] but there’s no puckering up allowed. We’re a very tactile bunch and we often give each other a hug – especially when we lead such emotional lives as our characters – but we can’t do that. With the nature of the scenes it’s difficult but we’ve had to find different ways of making that work. Camera trickery can help. No Rovers, no Roy’s Rolls! Will we still recognise it? I think it’ll be relatable to the world we are living in. While it’s not our normal on Corrie, it’s not our normal in the real world either. You’re doing your own make-up on set and I hear your husband Rob has been doing your hair? He’s done my roots twice. He’s also cut the boys’ hair (sons Harry, 14, and Sam, 11) twice and he didn’t just do a buzz cut, it was quite a nice finish, so he’s developed a new skill. How’s it been at home? We have good days and bad days. You feel guilty for enjoying it because you know that some people are going through the worst time in their lives. It’s been difficult for the kids because of home schooling but they have coped really well under extreme circumstances.
Coronation Street, ITV,