Julie Hesmondhalgh bids farewell to Hayley with spoof memorial at G-A-Y
MILLIONS of fans bid a sad farewell to Coronation Street's Hayley Cropper earlier this month, but a special few were able to pay their tributes are to face this weekend.
Julie Hesmondhalgh took to the stage at London's iconic G-A-Y to act out a spoof memorial to her transgender character, who took her own life following the diagnosis of terminal cancer in the soap last week.
Donning one of Hayley's dressing gowns, the 43-year-old was in great spirits as she graced the stage in a light-hearted send off, during which she was joined by five-piece harmony group The Overtones.
The star played out most of the skit from a bed on stage - making light of her character's sad end, and was presented with a mock gravestone engraved with RIP HAYLEY.
Julie also delivered a speech thanking the audience for their support over the last 16 years, which they lapped up.
Club owner Jeremy Joseph spoke about her appearance, admitting that it was fitting that she make an appearance since her first one when she first arrived in the soap.
"When she joined Corrie we brought her to the club and when I knew she was leaving I said let's do something on the closest day to the character dying," he told the Mail Online.
"It started as funeral then we went into a séance. We went 'Is anybody there and she jumped out and said Oh Roy I’m in heaven!'"
The actress went on to pose for some fun snaps with Jeremy, and even got into Hayley's famous red anorak, which she recently revealed she was donating to a Meningitis charity.
A peak audience of 10.2 million people tuned in to watch her final moments, which Julie and co-star Roy, played by David Nielson, filmed in one shot.
“The director, Kay Patrick, was keen for us not to have to keep doing it, because when you first do a scene like that, it’s very raw and you get the performance.”
While the last few months have been tough-going, Hesmondhalgh’s keen not to complain.
She said: “I always think you’ve got to be careful when you’re talking about things like this, because I don’t actually have it [terminal cancer].
“I’d started thinking about it [leaving] when I was doing a play at the Royal Exchange Theatre last year.
“I just felt, if I didn’t do it now, I never would. Sometimes you’ve got to shake things up.”