Sally Webster
Sally Webster is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Sally Dynevor. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 27 January 1986, when Kevin Webster drove past her in his van and accidentally splashed her while she was waiting for a bus. Her notable storylines have seen her married twice to Kevin, becoming the victim of domestic violence by Greg Kelly and her attempts to become the pillar of the community and annoy Janice Battersby in the process. During her time on the soap, she has also tried to impress her bosses Bet Lynch, Alf Roberts, Mike Baldwin, Paul Connor and Carla Connor and gain promotions. In 2009, Sally was diagnosed with Breast cancer; whilst portraying the storyline, Dynevor herself found out that she also had breast cancer, and claimed that the storyline had potentially saved her life. Following a second divorce from Kevin, the character embarks on a relationship with Tim Metcalfe and goes on to marry him in 2020, survives a minibus crash, begins a political career on the local council and later progresses to become the Mayor, becomes the victim of an internet troll, is wrongfully imprisoned for fraud and is injured when the roof collapses at the factory.
Creation
Casting
Auditions were held for the part of Sally Seddon with actress Sally Whittaker securing the role. 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 Webster. 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 best known characters, Hilda Ogden.Characterisation
Sally is described as ambitious, sometimes even arrogant, and is considered by various Street residents to be quite snobby. Such behaviour is apparent in her attempts to live above her station. In the past she has pressured her family to do much of what she tells them. She tried to force her daughter Rosie into a prestigious school; Rosie did not want to go. Another event saw her become envious of a friend's large house. Once, in fear of being constantly regarded by her daughters as the "bad guy", Sally would intentionally act passive and forgiving whenever the girls acted up, making Kevin out to be the mean, unfair parent when he scolded them for their behaviour. Kevin eventually got his revenge when he and the girls trashed their house while Sally was out. When she returned home and saw the mess, she couldn't keep up her act and became angry, feeling as though her role in the family was unimportant. Kevin told her otherwise, declaring that she always keeps the family in order and on their toes, and that she is genuinely appreciated by all.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 an interview with Woman magazine in 2015, Dynevor praised soap writers for reinventing Sally. She said: "After 29 years in Coronation Street, I feel like I'm 'reinventing' Sally a little bit and I really like that. I've had to change with the times, otherwise I'd have been left behind. I'm getting a lot more comedy now, and Joe Duttine and I can't stop laughing – which is great. He's so funny and we work well together." In 2017, Dynevor noted the similarities between herself and the character, commenting, "I'm getting so like her, it's awful. I'm morphing into her". The actress noted that others would laugh due to her and the character both having husbands named Tim. Dynevor also revealed that she does not like Sally's clothes, saying "I go to a photoshoot and there's anything resembling Sally, I want to cry." The actress also praised the soap for having a female producer and refocussing the storylines on the female characters in the soaps, and said that she had been able to portray Sally in "a more three-dimensional way and show her vulnerability".
Development
Relationship with Kevin Webster
Shortly after Sally's arrival in 1986 she was paired with Kevin Webster portrayed by Michael Le Vell and they then went on to get married and have two daughters Rosie and Sophie. Their marriage was on and off a number of times mainly due to either one of them having an affair. In 2009, Kevin went on to have an affair with Molly Dobbs resulting in Kevin getting Molly pregnant and her giving birth to a baby boy named Jack. Kevin revealed all to Sally in the Christmas Day 2009 episode; where Sally ended the marriage. In 2011, Le Vell backed a Sally and Kevin reunion stating; "I think they could definitely get back together, but I don't know when or how they could make it work as long as Sally accepts baby Jack." Dynevor added: "So many people have said it just wouldn't be right if Sally and Kevin weren't together. But I'm sure it would be really difficult for her to accept Jack as her own. Could you do that?"In 2015, Sally was involved in a surprise kiss with Kevin whilst being in a relationship and engaged to Kevin's best friend Tim Metcalfe. Asked if Kevin has feelings for Sally, Le Vell replied: "He'll always have feelings for her, as they were together for a long time. He'll always love her, but they just hurt each other too many times and too much water has passed under the bridge. Never say never but I think Sally and Tim are a great couple and Kevin enjoys seeing them together as well. They've got that harmonious relationship where he's still got Sally and Sophie in his life and he's got a new best mate in Tim." Asked about Kevin's reaction to the kiss Le Vell replied: "He's in total shock and disbelief. After about five seconds, that is when the realisation sinks in. He does respond at first but then he realises this is wrong. He is genuinely shocked. He knows deep down Sally didn't mean it, it is just a spur of the moment thing. Sally and Kevin do both feel genuinely bad afterwards for Tim because it was something and nothing. Obviously you wouldn't like it if your real life partner did it, but it didn't mean anything and they were married for over 20 years, not that that makes it okay! They're both full of remorse, even though it's not really Kevin's fault, Sally does pounce on him but he still feels guilty."
Breast cancer
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 fund-raising 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 spokesman 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 was also suffering from the disease. Dynevor explained that she found a lump in her breast while preparing for a storyline in which her character Sally Webster has the disease: "If I had not been researching this storyline I may not have discovered the lump in my breast and had it looked at so quickly, as a result of the early diagnosis, my treatment has been successful and I am able to return to work next month. This storyline could very well have saved my life."
Relationship with Tim Metcalfe
In 2013, Sally began a relationship with Tim Metcalfe portrayed by Joe Duttine. Dynevor revealed that even though Sally likes Tim she would like him to make some improvements to his lifestyle and commented on ITV ''Daybreak''; "He's a bit of a commitment-phobe so I'm not sure , but he's nice and Sally really likes him. She's trying to change him – manipulate him into what she wants! But he's not having it and he wants to go off down the pub, and doesn't want to spend any romantic weekends with her or anything. He's a real bloke – he wants his tea on the table!"Dynevor admitted; "I didn't really want Sally to find someone at first, but I like this relationship because she's not found 'Mr Perfect'. All the other men Sally's been with, I could easily have seen her having long term relationships with them. With Tim, you know there's no way they're going to live happily ever after, they're going to drive each other insane. I like the drama that has to offer."
In 2015, it was revealed that Tim would propose to Sally. Asked how Sally feels about Tim, Dynevor said: "I think she really loves Tim and she really cares for him but she's hoping she's going to be able to change him into the man she's always wanted to be with." Asked how Sally reacts to the proposal Dunevor said: "It does come out of the blue to Sally. They have spoken about getting married in the past then decided they were happy just to be living together, so it does come as a shock. But I think the fact that he gets down on one knee, he's got the music, he's bought the ring and he does it in front of everybody does mean Sally's thrilled."