Ex-Corrie star Sally Lindsay says only 10 women are allowed on TV - full list

27 February 2024 , 00:01

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Sally Lindsay has turned to writing and producing her own series (Image: Getty Images)

Sally Lindsay has hit out at TV bosses for using the same few women in dramas, whilst offering others grandma roles “at 50”.

The ex-Coronation Street star has now turned to writing and producing her own series, including The Madam Blanc Mysteries for Channel 5. Sally, 50, told Radio Times: “My show is 70% women of a certain age. I think it’s bull***t that you get to an age, and then you’re not wanted or you’re playing grandmas at 50.

“Ten older women are allowed on telly. I’m not on that list, so I wrote my own show.” She added: “Suranne Jones and I tried to sell Scott & Bailey for six years. In meetings, they would say, ‘Yeah, but where’s the bloke for the women to look at?’ “We were like, ‘there doesn’t need to be one’. It’s almost like, ‘We’ve got Sally Wainwright, we’re fine. Everything else, it’s got to be these five blokes.’ ”

Sally on Coronation Street (Granada Television)

In 2020 Billie Piper also felt TV execs played it too safe, saying: “I wasn’t considered for certain parts as I wasn’t in the group of five actresses cast for everything.”

Sally and Billie are likely thinking of stars such as Olivia Colman, 50, in The Crown, Netflix’s Heartstopper and BBC1’s Great Expectations. Others include Nicola Walker, 53, recently in BBC’s The Split and crime drama Annika. At 59, Sarah Lancashire has tons of work with star roles in Happy Valley and HBO drama Julia. Keeley Hawes, 48, has done The Midwich Cuckoos, Stonehouse and Crossfire.

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Gillian Anderson, 55, with a string of hits is Emily Maitlis in Netflix series Scoop. Helena Bonham Carter, 57, was in The Crown and ITV series Nolly. Suranne, 45, is in-demand with Gentleman Jack and Vigil recent successes.

Ruth Wilson in the BBC’s His Dark Materials starred in BBC1’s The Woman In The Wall. Other regulars in multiple series include Alison Steadman, 77, and Lesley Manville, 67.

Sally Lindsay as Jean White in The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Series 3

Our guess at who those 10 might be...

1. Olivia Colman
2. Nicola Walker
3. Sarah Lancashire
4. Keeley Hawes
5. Gillian Anderson
6. Helena Bonham Carter
7. Suranne Jones
8. Ruth Wilson
9. Alison Steadman
10. Leslie Manville

Mark Jefferies