Coronation Street Star Sally Carman Jokes About 'Awful' Experience Working With Husband
Coronation Street actress Sally Carman has offered a candid glimpse into the unique professional and personal dynamics of working alongside her real-life husband on the iconic ITV soap. The star, who portrays the fiery Abi Webster, is married to fellow Corrie actor Joe Duttine, who plays the beloved character Tim Metcalfe.
A Soap Marriage On and Off Screen
Sally Carman and Joe Duttine have been married since 2022, creating a rare situation where both partners are deeply embedded in the same television institution. While their characters rarely share scenes together on the cobbles of Weatherfield, their off-screen relationship presents its own set of humorous challenges during filming.
"It's awful. I don't recommend it," Carman quipped exclusively to The Mirror about working in such close proximity to her spouse. "I give him a wide berth because he makes me laugh and once I've gone, there's no getting it back and there's tears, so it's makeup retouching."
Navigating On-Screen Romance and Real-Life Partnership
The actress revealed the peculiar experience of watching her husband film romantic scenes with another co-star. Joe Duttine's character Tim is married to Sally Metcalfe, played by actress Sally Dynevor, which means Carman regularly witnesses their on-screen intimacy.
"She's helping me out. It's one less thing I have to do," Carman joked about Dynevor. "That sounds awful doesn't it. I love kissing my husband. Honestly, when you're filming kissing scenes, it's 25 sweaty men around you, burping and all that, you have the lights on you, time schedules, it's the least sexy thing ever. You can kiss whoever you need to, it's fine."
Current Storyline and Future Hopes
Carman's character Abi Webster is currently embroiled in one of Coronation Street's most dramatic storylines. After having an affair with Carl Webster, the brother of her then-husband Kevin Webster, Abi is now in a relationship with Carl following the exposure of their secret liaison.
Reflecting on the recent special Corriedale episode that crossed over with Emmerdale, Carman shared: "Corriedale was so much fun, we all got to hang out with the Emmerdale cast. We got to eat food in the middle of the night that tasted insane. I got to wear a coat on the night shoot, so I was happy. It went down really well with viewers, and seeing everyone at the top of their game was brilliant."
Looking ahead, the actress expressed uncertainty about her character's future but revealed her personal hopes: "I genuinely don't know what they've got planned in the script. I don't know if Abi and Kevin will get back together. I love working with Michael Le Vell and I miss him, so as long as we'll still have some scenes together - I'll be okay."
Industry Changes and Support Systems
The conversation turned to broader industry issues when Carman was asked about recent comments from former co-star Helen Flanagan, who spoke about feeling sexualised on the soap as a teenager. Flanagan had described being expected to "parade about in my knickers" at just 16 years old.
"It was a different time back then. I feel for Helen in those times," Carman responded thoughtfully. "For me, when I'm offered an intimacy coordinator, I said no, I'm much older than Helen was then and I get on with it, I'm fine, but it's good that it's an option these days."
The actress, who joined Coronation Street in 2017, acknowledged the positive changes in production practices while reflecting on her own approach to intimate scenes as a more experienced performer.
Through her humorous revelations and thoughtful reflections, Sally Carman provides a fascinating window into the complex intersection of professional acting partnerships and real-life marital bonds within the demanding environment of a long-running television soap.
