The character has been played on the long-running ITV show since by Jane Danson in 1997. The soap star was just 18 when she arrived on the show and was trusted with a number of high profile storylines.
Leanne went through a drug addiction and a failed marriage before the character departed Weatherfield in 2000. However, Jane made a welcome return to the cast in 2004 and has been an important character ever since.
Leanne is set to be at the centre of one of the show’s main storylines as she will be manipulated by the self-help teachings of Rowan Cunliffe. The character was fully immersed in Rowan’s self-help teachings despite warnings from Nick Tilsley and Toyah Battersby.
Nick and Toyah were relieved when it was revealed Rowan was leaving for America this week, but spoilers have shown its impact on the soap will rumble on and Leanne may be in danger. Away from the soap, actor Jane enjoys a good friendship with Rowan star, Emryhs Cooper, and congratulated the actor when he joined the show earlier this year.
The 45-year-old said: “So excited for everyone to see your character – it’s going to be VERY interesting – welcome to the cobbles love xxx.”
Robert has previously played Gavin Ferris in Emmerdale – and this is how the now-married couple first met at the British Soap Awards in 1999. Jane told OK! about their meeting, as she said: “I’m not the world’s most confident person but I’d had a crush on Rob since I was 15, so I thought, I have to speak to him, it’s fate.”
Their relationship has gone from strength to strength as they have been married since 2005 and share two children named Harry and Sam. Jane shared the secrets to their long relationship as she said: “Rob’s absolutely my best friend in the world. We’ve only had about two rows in twenty years. I’m not saying we don’t get on each other’s nerves sometimes but we’re a strong team and we’ve always allowed each other to be individuals.”
Jane has also opened up on how the two relied on each other during difficult times after she suffered a miscarriage a number of years ago. The soap star took to Instagram in October 2022 to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week as she said: “The pain of having a ‘missed miscarriage’ will stay with me forever. My three months scan showed there was no heartbeat yet my body continued to be pregnant for some time. It was devastating.
“The worst thing that I did was not talk about what I was going through and somehow it made the heartache even more painful. In time I learnt to talk and express just how broken I felt. With the love of my husband @robertbeck529 and support from my friends and family I began to heal. Sending love to anyone suffering.”
