Duchess of York appeals for Coronation Street role as soap icon’s “long lost sister”

“I was saying if she wanted a part on Coronation Street, because I’d love her to play my sister, she’s going to have to talk northern, so we’ve been having lessons.”

Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, has made a direct appeal to Coronation Street bosses to land a role on the soap – as she shared her unique bond with one of the soap’s most iconic stars. The Duchess has become close pals with Corrie’s Sally Dyenvor and headed to Manchester on Wednesday to join her as a patron of the Prevent Breast Cancer charity.

After visiting the Nightingale Hospital in Wythenshawe, Sally invited the Duchess over to Weatherfield – to explore the legendary Coronation Street set. And there she got to head behind the bar of The Rovers and meet a host of the soap’s stars including Julia Goulding, Jacob Roberts and Paddy Bever.

The Duchess had earlier told the M.E.N. that she was desperate to bag a cameo role in the soap. Meanwhile Sally said she had already decided the role she thinks she should play – as her long-lost sister!

The Duchess, affectionately known as Fergie, showed off her acting skills on the set, pulling a pint in the Rovers. She also reminded stars that she has previously had a cameo in US sitcom Friends as well as in The Vicar of Dibley.

Sarah told the M.E.N.: “If you could put it out there please I would like a cameo part in Corrie as Sally’s long lost sister.” When we asked if she was a fan of the show she said: “Of course! I’m 65 I think I’m almost as old as the soap itself.”

**The Duchess pulls a pint for Corrie stars in the Rovers** (Image: PA)

Sally, who plays soap legend Sally Metcalfe, also revealed that she has been coaching Sarah with a “northern accent” in readiness for a role. She said: “The other Sally would be thrilled to have the Duchess on Coronation Street! She would have tidied up and everything, and she’d take you down to the pub for a little glass of wine.

“I was saying to Sarah if she wanted a part on Coronation Street, because I’d love her to play my sister, she’s going to have to talk northern, so we’ve been having lessons.”

**The Duchess in the Rovers** (Image: PA)

Sally and Sarah have also shared the unique bond they have forged since their fateful meeting on ITV panel show Loose Women earlier this year when both talked about their breast cancer journeys. Sally asked the Duchess then if she would support the Prevent Breast Cancer charity – to which Sarah immediately agreed to join her as a patron.

The Duchess said: “We are very, very good friends, we have an understanding. It wasn’t because of being on Loose Women, it was because spiritually we have an understanding that we’re here together to build this roof for the National Breast Imaging Academy in Manchester, and we really are determined.”

**Sarah, the Duchess of York, has joined forces with Corrie star Sally Dynevor as a patron of the Prevent Breast Cancer Charity in Manchester** (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

She continued: “I think Sally and I would always be friends because we have the same outlook on life. She is a wonderful mother, a great core integrity of this country is of showing up, to look, listen learn and amplify, Sally does that. It’s very rare at 65 years old to find a new friend but I really enjoy Sally.

“The other thing is Sally plays to my gentle side and I am very stratospherically gentle, even though I seem to be quite strong, I have to be, but I am very gentle. To have a friend that understands my sensitivity and how I need a lot of reassurance is a real joy.”

**Sally invited The Duchess to visit the cobbles of Coronation Street** (Image: PA)

Sally added: “The moment I met Sarah when we did Loose Women, I knew we had a bond. Sarah’s down to earth, she’s kind, she’s gentle, she’s understanding.

“I knew as soon as I talked to her about what we were trying to do in the north west I knew she’d be really interested in what we were doing, but I was amazed when she said she would come up to Manchester support Prevent Breast Cancer and said: ‘I will help you raise that money’. We’d only met for an hour or so when Sarah agreed that and I was bowled over, I can’t tell you how excited I was.”

Sarah added that although she loved heading to the ITV soap set, it was heading to the Nightingale Centre and supporting the Prevent Breast Cancer charity that was the highlight of her day in Manchester.

**The Duchess toured the hospital with Corrie’s Sally Dynevor and Sue Cleaver who are fellow patrons of Prevent Breast Cancer** (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

Sarah said: “This was the reason why I came, being here is my Coronation Street, because this is what feeds my soul. To be able to help Sally raise the £600,000 this is what I find really important.

“Coming to Manchester, I wanted to highlight how extraordinary Greater Manchester and the NHS are doing.”

The two women joined forced today in Wythenshawe as the charity launched a public appeal as it aims to raise £600,000 to secure the future of the National Breast Imaging Academy in Manchester. Its aim is to train 50 new breast imaging specialists a year to benefit and strengthen breast services across the UK, as well as increasing screening capacity in Manchester by 13,000 appointments annually.

The Academy is set to commence construction next month and will be located at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). Prevent Breast Cancer is jointly fundraising for its construction with Manchester NHS Foundation Trust Charity and together the two organisations have already secured over 80% of the costs required to build it. Now, they are asking the public for their support in fundraising the final £600,000.