Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh reveals transgender Hayley Cropper was meant to be a JOKE storyline

CORONATION Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh has revealed that her character Hayley Cropper was initially introduced as part of a joke storyline. 

Julie was a regular on Corrie for over a decade, during which time her character married Roy Cropper (David Neilson) and became a soap-fan favourite – but her role on the soap was originally meant to be much smaller and part of a joke played on Roy.