However, some abused their kindly nature. Roy and Hayley are told that the operation if successful should last six hours. Unable to return to Firman's Freezers, Hayley got a job at Underworld knicker factory when Roy won a bet with Mike Baldwin that Hayley could out-machine any of his girls. Her friend and colleague Alma Baldwin (Amanda Barrie) introduced her to Roy Cropper (David Neilson) and they became friends until Hayley told him that she was transgender and used to be called Harold. I think maybe Ann McManus came up with it. Hayley tells Roy that he must not touch the glass containing the lethal cocktail. Who was the father of Heather Trotts baby? His relationship with Hayley started out platonically, meeting for the first time over dinner at Alma's flat. In February, Curly and Alma broke the news to Hayley that her father had passed away. "[11] Hayley's exit storyline saw her diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Hayley regretted her harsh words and she and Becky soon made up. Producer Brian Park: [We] didn't want to be seen as chasing their tails so much. Roy didn't believe it until he saw himself sleepwalking on the cafe CCTV footage (which he'd had installed to catch the prankster). The answer, my friends, is that . Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) intervenes in the wedding preparations and, after weeks of muscling in, Hayley and Roy tell her they do not want her to be a part of the wedding, despite Hayley wearing her vintage wedding dress. In 2013, Carla was one of the first people to find out about Hayley's cancer treatment. She left Weatherfield immediately, with Liam Connor agreeing to keep her job open at the factory. In her later years, Hayley formed an unlikely, yet notably close, friendship with Carla Connor (Alison King) and although it was obvious the pair were from completely different walks of life, they came to respect and care for each other. (50 Years), News that Coronation Street was set to introduce British soap's first transsexual character broke in the papers two weeks before Hayley's on-screen debut in Episode 4341 on 26th January 1998. Hayley Cropper (also Harold Patterson and Hayley Patterson) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh. She agrees and they marry. In July 2003, Hayley went to visit her ill Aunty Monica. She was a fast machinist and got a job at Underworld, though when her secret came out and she faced bigotry in the workplace and elsewhere, she found it difficult to cope with. Following this, in October 2007, Hayley leaves the Street to go on volunteer work in Mozambique for a year. The following year, the Croppers joined the Weatherfield First Aiders. They decide to go camping in a bid to mend their issues. A minority of people expressed their concern at having such "bizarreness" brought into their homes on a prime-time show. In May 2010, Hayley and Roy argue when she suggests that they have a lavish wedding, now that the law has changed and their union can now be officially recognised. Unbeknown to Hayley, Roy was planning to propose to her at the upcoming 70s Valentine's dance, but when Roy caught Hayley spying on him even after he'd explained why he was seeing Beryl, he felt betrayed by her lack of trust, causing a brief rift between them. Transgender groups were also largely unhappy with the storyline, and found Hayley's original character traits, as written, clichd and ill-informed. Later that week, Roy and Hayley go to a hospital appointment following her scan and learn that the cancer is a lot more aggressive than anticipated, meaning Hayley only has weeks left to live. Roy breaks the news to Anna, Fiz, Tyrone, Peter, Carla, Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) and Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie). As the day arrived, the wedding party was just about to arrive when the press turned up at the church. Interrupting Angela typing the words you're next on the factory computer, Hayley was asked by Angela to go to Sheffield and post a letter containing the threat. Hayley does well and is invited to Audrey Roberts' (Sue Nicholls) birthday party at the Bistro. During Hayley and Roy's relationship, it often fell to Alma to talk sense into them during difficult moments, the most significant one being Roy's rejection of Hayley when she confessed her sexuality to him. In September 2007, Hayley was saddened to learn of her Aunt Monica's death. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The issue hung in the air for a few weeks until, frustrated with Roy's stiffness and insensitivity, Hayley went to stay with the Windasses. With Alma as Matron of Honour, Martin Platt as Best Man, and her Great Uncle Bert as Father of the Bride, Hayley and Roy were married on 23rd April 1999. Hayley's hen night, planned by Becky, saw her blindfolded and led to the cafe, which had been transformed into a salsa bar, where Sean Tully had hired a friend to pose as a Latin lothario and salsa dance with Hayley. She hires a private investigator to track him down and introduces herself as his aunt. She is told she needs an operation and chemotherapy to get rid of the cancer. Hayley is delighted to learn that Roy has booked a day off so they can go to Blackpool. [5] Hayley's funeral aired on 31 January 2014. The character Roy Cropper is played by 72-year old English actor Daniel Neilson who has been invested in the role since 1995. Hayley thought the day ruined but to her great surprise, Roy hastily re-organised the day's events, moving the ceremony to the cafe. Brian Park: We had hoped for her to be a sympathetic character and we didn't want to make her big and blowsy and looking like Pete Burns." Later, Hayley breaks down at work and Carla comforts her. They went on to be one of the longest-lasting couples in Coronation Street history, something which pleased the actors. In many respects, the Croppers were very different and this was reflected in their other interests. Having missed each other, they toured the sights of Amsterdam together, while surreptitiously trying to find out where they stood in each other's affections. Roy became obsessed with catching the prankster, suspecting Beth Tinker, but the mystery was solved when Deirdre Barlow, walking her dog Eccles, found Roy sleepwalking on the Red Rec. Calling out, Anna and Carla go to the bedroom and, to their shock, find a deceased Hayley on the bed, with Roy's arm around her. In April, they fostered Fiz Brown, a headstrong and somewhat rebellious young woman. Royston "Roy" Cropper is the proprietor of Roy's Rolls cafe in Victoria Street and husband of the late Hayley Cropper.. Roy was an oddball child who received little support from his mother, Sylvia.He left home at a young age to escape his hated stepfather Roger Goodwin and spent his working life catering in hotels and restaurants. On being a woman playing the role: "I know a lot of the transsexual community were upset that it was a woman playing the part of Hayley, and not a transsexual. When Hayley Cropper swallows poison on Coronation Street on Monday night, taking her own life to escape inoperable pancreatic cancer, with her beloved husband, Roy, in pieces at her bedside, it will be the end of a character who, thanks to Hesmondhalgh's performance, has captivated and challenged British TV viewers for Before auditioning, the actress was given sketchy details about the character, with one glaring omission: All I knew at first was there's a part going in Coronation Street, she's called Hayley, she's going to work in the factory and she's fun. Hayley Cropper was created in 1998. However, reaction to the character was mainly positive. Transgender campaigners were initially upset that a cisgender woman had been chosen for the part but later praised Hesmondhalgh's dedication and sensitivity. By law they were still unwed, but with Hayley changing her surname to "Cropper" by deed poll, they considered themselves a married couple. However, Hayley's insecurity over how Roy saw her occasionally cropped up, in particular her fear that he didn't find her attractive, but it was never mentioned again after his near-suicide in 2003 when he thought he'd been unfaithful to Hayley with Tracy Barlow. Furious that the police weren't investigating Alex, Hayley refused to accept her bail condition and was remanded in custody. On 11 January 2013, it was announced that Hesmondhalgh would leave Coronation Street at the end of her contract. However, as other UK soaps such as Brookside and Hollyoaks had recently covered such storylines, the idea did not appeal to the team. Hayley secretly does not like the new wallpaper but keeps quiet so she does not upset Roy. In the summer, Hayley encountered Wayne Hayes and his mother Sheila in the Kabin and brought them to the cafe for lunch. For a few weeks, they lived in fear of Alex, Social Services and the police, finding little comfort in the fact that they were doing it to protect Wayne. *Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Fandom will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Hayley and Roy shared many interests and activities. On 22 January 2014, Hesmondhalgh won "Best Serial Drama Performance" at the National Television Awards. However, when Hayley discovered that Roger's death had left Sylvia bereft and living in a care home, she persuaded Roy to take her in. In 2007, she assaulted Christian Gatley due to his violent reaction to Hayley's revelation about being his father, causing Christian to flee the area and lose touch with Hayley. (Sunday Mirror, 8th March 1998) "The point about transsexuals is that they want to blend in. Roy couldn't believe that Hayley wanted to take herself away from him earlier than her illness dictated and refused to support her. Roy and Hayley decided to start an affair and shared their first kiss at the boating lake on the Red Rec. On 20 January 2014, Hayley died in Roy's arms after drinking a lethal cocktail. There is no answer, so Anna eventually unlocks the door with her spare key and they enter the flat together. She is taken care of by paramedics and she and Roy tell one another they love each other before watching the factory blow up, after Tony sets fire to the building, killing himself but Carla manages to untie herself and escapes. Roy tries one last time to stop Hayley but she is adamant. What do you think about that?' (Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 7th March 1998), After her initial two-month stint was deemed a success, Julie Hesmondhalgh was given a new contract and Hayley returned as a permanent character with Episode 4429 on 29th June 1998, beginning with a memorable set of episodes filmed on location in Amsterdam, where Hayley reunited with Roy having completed her transformation into a woman. Wayne later returned and stayed the night, feeling safe with the Croppers. Hayley and Sylvia go but is devastated when Roy tells everyone that she has pancreatic cancer. As the year came to a close, Hayley started her chemotherapy sessions and began planning her funeral. Finding her manner odd, Carla investigated and persuaded Anna Windass to let her into the flat, where they found Roy with a lifeless Hayley, who had passed away moments before. Roy confronts Hayley when he sees money has withdrawn from their joint bank account and she tells Roy everything. Dancing with Norris in her dancing exam, Hayley passed with flying colours, although much to her annoyance, Roy was more interested in his and Mary's chess games. When she saw Anna wash a glass from the bedroom, Carla realised that Hayley had taken her own life before the cancer reached its final stage, but she respected Hayley's choice not to share her plans with her and didn't pursue the matter further. Hesmondhalgh won numerous awards for her portrayal of Hayley, but announced her departure from the show on 11 January 2013. A few days later, Roy and Hayley attend Jane's funeral and meet her young sons, Zac and Henry. In June 2011, Roy's mother Sylvia Goodwin (Stephanie Cole) who moved in with the Croppers' earlier in the year is suspicious when, after expressing a longing for grandchildren, she finds out Hayley cannot have children. Jane shocked the couple by making jokes about her pancreatic cancer, but while Roy found her attitude inappropriate, Hayley was inspired and befriended the couple. Most criticism came from the LGBT community, who slated the portrayal of Hayley as cliched and ill-informed. Becky grew very attached to Royston and Hayles. The couple visit and Hayley is shocked to see how dazed Jane is after taking morphine. Occasionally, Hayley experimented with a more youthful, feminine look, before deciding that it didn't suit her. With Hayley behind him, Roy bought a new unit in Victoria Street, No.16, and the flat above, and moved the cafe there. Carla gives Hayley have the time off and Mary lends them her motor home. (The Daily Telegraph, 21st April 1998). [11] Hesmondhalgh revealed that she wanted to pursue new projects, saying "I've had the most wonderful and happy time in the life changing 15/16 years I've been in Corrie, and I owe so much to the show and the special team that make it happen. "Hayley Cropper was one of the most important characters in the world, as far as I'm concerned." Sometimes you have to go in with that attitude. 27-year-old Julie Hesmondhalgh was born in Accrington, Lancashire. The Croppers struck up an instant bond with Wayne, but although the quiet lad hadn't said why he ran away from home, as Alex left with Wayne, Roy saw him hit the boy through the cafe window. When she met Roy in 1998, a kinship was developed as they were both lonely, introspective people. Hayley made him promise to go on and be her eyes, ears and heart for years to come. [2] Her final scenes were filmed on 18 November 2013 [3] and aired on 22 January 2014. All the pain they had gone through was forgotten as Hayley and Roy began a new life with their daughter, whom they named Patience Cropper. But a particularly interesting one that's caught hold on social media is eating an orange in the shower. When Hayley decided to end her own life when diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer, Roy refused to support her, seeing it as selfish on her part to take herself away from him, cherishing every possible second he could spend with her. Meeting with Christian on the pretence of showing him where Harold's ashes were scattered, Hayley finally told Christian that she was Harold. In an eventful six years in the Street, Becky loved and lost, achieving some of her dreams but constantly arriving back at square one, partly because she always thought that any happiness in her life was temporary and sooner or later she'd blow it. Hayley is inspired by Jane's strength and confidence, despite dying from pancreatic cancer, but Roy tells Hayley that he found her highly inappropriate and inconsiderate. Rejected by Roy, Hayley confided her troubles in Alma, also revealing her sex change to her. Killer Tony Gordon (Gray O'Brien) arrives, takes the gag off Carla's mouth and threatens them, revealing that Hayley is there as revenge against Roy, who convinced Tony to confess his crimes to the police, and says he will kill her and Carla. Hayley broached the possibility of having a legally-recognised wedding instead, as they had always intended to do once the law changed, but Roy opposed the idea because of the expense and his discomfort at expressing his feelings publicly. (Final line, to husband Roy). This would make an amazing storyline, in which she has had enough of being a woman and wants to revert to being a man again Despite the fact she's shown no interest in being a man. What is the real name of Hayley. Carla Connor became the Underworld co-manager in 2007 following the death of her husband Paul. However, when interviewed the Hayes family and Alex denied any abuse was taking place, and the Croppers were suspended from fostering for good measure. In most aspects of their lives, they were a team, for example in their volunteer work and becoming first aiders. The dress is a success and Roy and Hayley attend Carla and Peter's wedding. The Croppers fled from the wedding with Patience, but faced immediate pressure from the Barlows to give Tracy back the baby. Before meeting Hayley, Roy Cropper led a life very similar to his future wife; he was an only child, whose father St. John Cropper had walked out on the family, and his mother Sylvia found him a disappointment due to his oddness. Most just want Roy and Hayley to get together." In December 2011, when Tracy Barlow had a miscarriage which she claimed was caused by Becky pushing her down the stairs, Becky defiantly refused to take the blame, claiming that Tracy had lost the babies before the stairs incident and slipped down her staircase of her own accord. They have a wonderful time but their joy is cut short when they are told that Jane has been rushed to a hospice. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Coronation Street's Julie Hesmondhalgh: Hayley's death is not a 'right to die' storyline", "When Julie Met Hayley: Interview with Julie Hesmondhalgh", When Julie Met Hayley: The Original Interview with Julie Hesmondhalgh with Beaumont Magazine Columnist Samantha Johnson, "Entertainment | TV stars prepare for battle", "Real-life Hayley Cropper speaks publicly for the first time", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hayley_Cropper&oldid=1138353201, This page was last edited on 9 February 2023, at 06:01. The following month, Hayley was promoted to supervisor at the factory, with responsibility for quality control. Hayley then had the operation to remove her tumour, giving Roy her wedding ring to look after while she was in the operating theatre. The result of this was the tabling, in 2004, of the Gender Recognition Act, granting trans people full legal status in their acquired sex. 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