Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn 'really happy' about Sinead cancer death

Katie McGlynn, who plays Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street

(Image credit: WireImage)

The actress says it frees her up to explore other opportunities

Coronation Street actress Katie McGlynn says she’s delighted that show bosses made the decision to kill off her character, Sinead Osborne.

Former knicker stitcher Sinead was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2018 and initially put off conventional treatment in favour of alternative therapies as she was worried about the effect of chemotherapy on her and husband Daniel’s then unborn baby.

The following December, show producer Iain MacLeod revealed he hadn’t decided whether the fan favourite would succumb to the illness or survive. However, recent Coronation Street episodes have shown Sinead and Daniel receive the devastating blow that her cancer is terminal, and the ditzy blonde will pass away in emotional scenes set to air in the coming weeks.

Sinead and Daniel hug on sofa Coronation Street — Sinead and Daniel have recently learned that her cancer is terminal

Asked how she feels about the decision not to give Sinead a happy ending, 26 year old Katie says: “Personally I’m really happy with it, because for me, selfishly, I get to explore other opportunities, which I’ve always wanted to do.

“Also, if we didn’t end it like this, the story might have been forgotten about, and wouldn’t have been as big a deal. This way, there will be more awareness of people who are going through this in real life, and of cancer in general.

“There are so many women and families going through this right now. I’m not wonder woman, but this might save lives if it gets women to go for their smear tests, or get advice on whether to have chemo while they’re pregnant.”

The actress, who joined Coronation Street in 2013, says she is now setting her sights on doing a raft of different projects.

She adds: “I’d love to do dramas, especially now I’m a bit older. I’d love to do a film, I’d love to do a series on Netflix, some theatre…I want to do a bit of everything. That’s why I knew that if I didn’t go now, I wouldn’t get to do all that. I just want to tick everything off my list.”

First up is a stint in panto (Oh yes, it is!) The blonde has signed up to play Tinker Bell in a production of Peter Pan this Christmas at the Northwich Memorial Court in Cheshire.

Main picture: WireImage

Alison Slade has over 20 years of experience as a TV journalist and has spent the vast majority of that time as Soap Editor of TV Times magazine. She is passionate about the ability of soaps to change the world by presenting important, issue-based stories about real people in a relatable way. There are few soap actors that she hasn’t interviewed over the years, and her expertise in the genre means she has been called upon as a judge numerous times for The British Soap Awards and the BAFTA TV Awards.

When she is not writing about soaps, watching soaps, or interviewing people who are in soaps, she loves going to the theatre, taking a long walk or pottering about at home, obsessing over Farrow and Ball paint.