Coronation Street star Jane Hazlegrove opens up about facing daily homophobia ahead of wedding anniversary

Coronation Street star Jane Hazlegrove has spoken candidly about the ongoing homophobia she and her wife, actress Isobel Middleton, continue to face on a daily basis — even as they prepare to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.

Hazlegrove, best known for her role as Bernie Winter on the ITV soap, reflected on her personal experiences in a recent interview. Despite progress in LGBTQ+ rights, she revealed that prejudice remains a persistent part of her life. “You still meet homophobia every day,” she said. “But I just smile at the homophobes and try to educate them and lead from the front”.

The couple, who first met 30 years ago, entered into a civil partnership in 2010 and married in 2015 following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the UK. Hazlegrove described their wedding as a “beautiful thing” and said she still finds it hard to believe she was able to celebrate her love so openly. “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,” she said.

Her visibility as an openly gay actress in one of the UK’s most-watched soaps is not just a personal triumph - it’s a beacon for others. She’s written about her early experiences at Pride, recalling the fear of being recognised, and contrasting it with the pride she now feels standing atop the Coronation Street float. “That young woman today can see role models in almost all areas of life,” she wrote, “including LGBTQ+ actors appearing in our best loved soaps.”