Oldham council pledges £10m to refurbish theatre after campaign led by actor Julie Hesmondhalgh
February 2023
Coronation Street stars join fight to save Oldham Coliseum from closure
Theatre says it will be forced to close after losing £1.8m Arts Council England subisdy
May 2021
The Greatest Play in the History of the World review – a face-to-face delight
TV review
The Pact review – Wales’s Big Little Lies will have you on tenterhooks
May 2020
Observer TV reviews
The week in TV: The A Word, Isolation Stories, The Eddy; Trying; Homeland – review
Peter Bowker’s wry autism drama returned to fresh complications, ITV went full lockdown, and Netflix’s jazz story was all tuned up with nowhere to go
April 2020
The G2 interview
‘I do my best – wholeheartedly’: Julie Hesmondhalgh on Corrie, Corbyn and trans rights
She played Hayley in Coronation Street and a rape survivor in Broadchurch, and has always believed art can change the world. She is no less passionate about fighting for causes off screen
November 2019
'Bring a sleeping bag!' Manchester prepares for 24-hour peace epic
On Remembrance Sunday, a theatrical marathon will share the hopes and insights of 100 peace-workers around the UK. It’s an ode to optimism, says playwright Neil Bartlett
October 2019
Arts education should not be a luxury, says Julie Hesmondhalgh
Ex-Coronation Street star backs Durham commission’s call for arts to be taught to all children
April 2019
How Coronation Street's screen queens conquered television
Sarah Lancashire was among the first actors to prove there was life after Weatherfield, with Suranne Jones, Sally Lindsay, Michelle Keegan and Katherine Kelly among those to follow. What is it about the soap’s women?
February 2019
Mother Courage and Her Children review – canny power from Julie Hesmondhalgh
Anna Jordan’s new adaptation sets Brecht’s anti-war play in a dystopian 2080
August 2018
Julie Hesmondhalgh: ‘A new generation are proud to be socialist and that’s really exciting’
The Greatest Play in the History of the World … review – sci-fi romance reaches for the stars
April 2016
ITV’s Broadchurch adds Charlie Higson and Julie Hesmondhalgh to cast
David Tennant and Olivia Colman joined by The Fast Show and Happy Valley actors for third and final series of detective thriller
January 2016
On my radar
On my radar: Julie Hesmondhalgh’s cultural highlights
The actor on Oldham Street, Manchester, the magic of Slow Club, a friend’s brilliant memoir, British feature film Radiator and Lemn Sissay’s poetry
February 2015
Watch television with …
Julie Hesmondhalgh
The Cucumber and ex-Corrie star on her favourite TV
May 2014
Dominic West, Adeel Akhtar, Rory Kinnear, Andrew Buchan, Jodie Whittaker, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Simon Bird: Bafta TV awards 2014
Seven actors reveal their TV secrets
January 2014
Mark Lawson on television
Hayley Cropper's Coronation Street suicide shows how soaps can influence the national debate
Hayley's euthanasia plotline has been handled commendably, but are soaps the best format for raising contentious social issues, asks Mark Lawson
