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Sally Ann Matthews had a surprise wedding on her birthday and her son's christening

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 03: Sally Ann Matthews attends the British Soap Awards at The Lowry Theatre on June 3, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/WireImage)
Sally Ann Matthews attends the British Soap Awards at The Lowry Theatre in 2017. (Photo by Joe Maher/WireImage)

Coronation Street's Sally Ann Matthews surprised her family and friends with a secret wedding on the same day as her birthday and her son's christening.

The actor, who plays Jenny Connor in Corrie, spoke to Kate Thornton on White Wine Question Time with co-star Sally Carman.

Ahead of ITV's Super Soap week, Matthews was asked about the moments of her life that most resembled a soap opera, and told the story of her surprise wedding to QC Nicholas Rhodes after the birth of her son, James.

She said: "I never wanted to get married, ever. I wanted to be with somebody and for me the decision to have a child was a much bigger commitment. So we decided that we would start a family and we did.

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"Then as soon as James was born, I kind of went: 'Oh I want the same name as everybody else. So all right, I'll marry you now but I don't want a fuss and you're rubbish at remembering dates. So we'll get married on my birthday at James's christening.'

"So that's what we did. Every year on my birthday I forget it's also my wedding anniversary! So he always remembers but I always forget.

FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 12th October 2021

Coronation Street - Ep 10459

Monday 18th October 2021 - 2nd Ep

Carla Barlow [ALISON KING] breaks the news to Jenny Connor [SALLY ANN MATTHEWS] that Johnny is moving to Bali.  Jenny’s stunned.

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Sally Ann Matthews plays Jenny Connor in Corrie (ITV)

"We had the christening and then we were at the reception and the only people that knew were my two little bridesmaids.

"They were only young, about seven and nine. I took them shopping and said: 'You can have whatever you want.' They got silver little mini skirts with a split in it.

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"My best friend and I ducked out, we did a quick change and called my dad to the back of the room. He walks, out sees me in a wedding dress, loses the use of his arms and legs and I went: 'Dad pull yourself together!'

"We turned around and the band started playing the Wedding March. Everybody had been called down for picture. They started playing the Wedding March, everyone was going: 'It's a bit out of order, you know because they're not married, they've got a baby,' all a bit like that, all the old dears.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 01:  Sally-Ann Matthews attends the British Soap Awards at The Lowry Theatre on June 01, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Sally-Ann Matthews attends the British Soap Awards at The Lowry Theatre on June 01, 2019 (Mike Marsland/WireImage)

"And then gradually one person turned around and saw me and everyone just started screaming and crying. Me mother went: 'I spent £70 on makeup from Clinique and have I got any of it left on my face?!"

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She compared her job in acting to that of her QC husband, saying they both dress up for the job and both have to convince people of something.

She said: "He's a part time judge. He a criminal QC, he's also a recorder, so he does part time 'judgery' stuff. His life is obviously a soap opera and real life crime drama! The things that he sees! I say our lives are very similar, he dresses up for a living as well.

"He goes in and tries to convince people of something so pretty much the same thing that I do!"

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