Coronation Street star Jane Hazlegrove admits she and wife Isobel Middleton face daily homophobia – as the couple prepare to celebrate a decade of marriage.
The actress, 57, fell in love with Isobel, 58, after a chance meeting 30 years ago, but with same-sex weddings still outlawed in Britain at the time, the prospect of marrying seemed remote.
Now, as they approach their milestone tenth anniversary, Jane has reflected on their journey and why finally being able to exchange vows with her long-term partner meant so much.
Speaking to The Mirror, she said: ‘I love a wedding, but I never thought that I’d actually get to have my own big party, full of all the people that I love and lots of laughter.
‘It was a beautiful thing and a bit of a shock. I still can’t believe it and I’m so proud that we’ve done it and I’m so proud of my love for Isobel. It’s my greatest achievement, regardless of the career.
‘I just can’t believe that I’m allowed to love this woman and live the life that I live without being persecuted and hounded. Yes, you still meet homophobia every day, but I just smile at the homophobes and try to educate them and lead from the front.’
Coronation Street star Jane Hazlegrove (right) has revealed she and her wife Isobel Middleton (left) still face daily homophobia – as the couple prepare to celebrate a decade of marriage
Jane joined the ITV soap in 2019 as Bernie Winter (pictured) – mum to twins Gemma and Paul
Jane joined the ITV soap in 2019 as Bernie Winter – mum to twins Gemma and Paul.
And as she prepares to mark her own wedding anniversary off screen, Bernie is also set to walk down the aisle with corner shop owner Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin).
But as any soap fan knows, wedding days rarely run smoothly, and Bernie and Dev’s big day looks set to be no exception.
First, Bernie’s grandchildren, the quads, fall ill and are forced to watch the nuptials via livestream with their brother Joseph.
Then, Bernie forgets her lucky charm locket and races back home only to disturb a burglar.
Jane joked to the publication that ‘everything goes wrong’ adding that once Bernie finally gets to the ceremony, she suffers an allergic reaction, collapses, and is whisked away in an ambulance.
While Jane kept tight-lipped about whether Bernie and Dev actually say ‘I do’, she did reveal what her character wears for the big day, and it’s anything but traditional.
She explained she’s a huge fan of singer Elkie Brooks, and spotted her on TV wearing a beautiful kaftan – sparking inspiration for Bernie’s wedding dress.
The actress fell in love with Isobel after a chance meeting 30 years ago, but with same-sex weddings still outlawed in Britain at the time, the prospect of marrying seemed remote
Jane said: ‘I love a wedding, but I never thought that I’d actually get to have my own big party, full of all the people that I love and lots of laughter. It was a beautiful thing and a bit of a shock’
However, she revealed the dress will still be white and she is really ‘chuffed’ with what the costume department have come up with.
Born in Manchester, Jane began acting at a young age and made her TV debut at 13 in the Yorkshire Television series The Book Tower.
At 16, she joined Coronation Street as teenager Sue Clayton, staying on the cobbles for a year.
She’s since starred in numerous dramas, including a long-running role in Casualty as paramedic Kathleen Dixon.
Today, Jane and Isobel live in Derbyshire, where Jane enjoys walking in the hills and indulging her love of classic cars, including a 1969 MGC.
The couple met in 1995 when Jane starred in the sell-out play Boom Bang-a-Bang at London’s Bush Theatre.
Isobel came to see the show and the pair struck up a conversation afterwards, sparking a romance that’s lasted three decades.
As she prepares to mark her own wedding anniversary off screen, Bernie is also set to walk down the aisle with corner shop owner Dev Alahan
Bernie has become something of a regular on the Coronation Street cobbles since her arrival
They became civil partners in 2010, holding the ceremony on a boat in Bristol. But Jane has also spoken about the painful reality of not being legally recognised as Isobel’s partner during earlier years.
When Isobel fell ill before their civil partnership, Jane revealed she wasn’t allowed to know details about her partner’s treatment – and was treated as ‘just a friend’, despite them being together for a decade.
They eventually married at a Bristol register office in 2015, but kept it low-key, telling no one and later inviting six close friends round for a curry to celebrate.
Jane revealed she was reluctant at first to get married simply because it had become legally permitted, but ultimately found the day to be incredibly meaningful.
She’s now a passionate advocate for LGBT+ rights and is an active member of global campaign group All Out.
Reflecting on how Pride was banned in Hungary this year, Jane told The Mirror it’s ‘abhorrent’ that people are still prevented from loving who they love.
