‘It’s a nightmare’: Coronation Street star’s dismay at serious hair loss

Sally suffered some scary symptoms (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) When UK acting royalty and former Rovers barmaid Sally Lindsay started to suffer with perimenopause symptoms, another former Coronation Street queen, Suranne Jones, came to the rescue. Sally, who played Shelley Unwin between 2001 and 2006, noticed a big change in her trademark golden locks as they started to thin out, leaving her with visible bald patches. While appearing on Tom Price’s My Mate Bought a Toaster podcast, Sally explained: ‘When I started through perimenopause, which was about four years ago now, I was dead late, and all of a sudden my hair, which was always really, really thick, just went to nothing. ‘I could see patches. It was really bad. As she struggled with the symptoms, she turned to her former co-star and fellow superstar, Suranne Jones, who pointed her in the direction of a female doctor. ‘I went to two male doctors and then my friend Suranne Jones, she said, ‘You want to go to this doctor, Dr Naomi Potter,’ and she biked me round HRT, literally biked me it round. Suranne Jones pointed her to a doctor that could help (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) ‘She said, ‘You’re literally two years into perimenopause and not had any help,’ because I kept asking for help. It’s a normal story, isn’t it? ‘It’s a nightmare, the fact the doctors only get one hour’s training in their entire thing on something that happens to 51% of the population is a disgrace.’ Sally went on to talk about her preference for hiring former soap actors for her series, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, despite the prevalence of snobbery against soap stars within the acting industry, citing their toughness and preparedness. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘The thing about being an actor who has been on a soap opera is they are absolutely match fit, I know they will turn up for work, they’ll know their lines, they’ll know them inside out, they won’t be a dick and they’ll take direction.’ Sally likes to work alongside former soap actors on her own series, The Madame Blanc Mysteries (Picture: Mark Cassar/Clapperboard/Channel 5 Television) It isn’t the first time Sally has spoken about her preference for working alongside other former soap actors and directors, previously sharing on Joe Wilkinson and David Earl’s Chatabix podcast: ‘I remember especially in Coronation Street, most of them were amazing and I still know them now, fantastic people. ‘And the hardest job ever, I’d always get a director who has done a soap, I’d always hire one, I’d hire an actor who has done a soap because they are hard as nails. ‘They get in and they’re raw, they know their lines, they’re in and they don’t mess about. ‘There’s something about that training.’ Who was Shelley Unwin in Coronation Street? Shelley was a hit with the locals (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Shelley arrived in Weatherfield to work at the Rovers Return, though her instant popularity with the locals saw her promoted to manager when Fred Elliott (John Savident) took over the famous boozer. She struck up a romance with Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) and the two moved into the pub after becoming engaged. Unbeknownst to Shelley though, Peter was also dating Lucy Richards (Katy Carmichael), who was pregnant with his son. Shelley was heartbroken by Peter’s betrayal… (Picture: ITV) Peter eventually married both women, and when Shelley discovered the truth she binned him off, while leaning on her mum Bev (Susie Blake) for support. Next came a relationship with absolute rotter Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward), who was sleeping with Bev behind her back, and worked to isolate her from all of her friends while attacking her confidence by making cruel remarks about her weight and buying undersized clothes to humiliate her. As Shelley fell further under his control, she developed severe agoraphobia and became essentially trapped in her bedroom above the pub, while Charlie conducted various affairs in full view of the community. …but Charlie was much worse (Picture: ITV) Shelley sought help from a psychologist, and reclaimed her power, dumping rotten Charlie at the altar and humiliating him in front of the other wedding guests. Securing a new job in the Peak District, she left Weatherfield, though a one night stand with Charlie resulted in a pregnancy, which was exposed when she returned to visit her mum, and despite pressure from Charlie and his new beau, Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) to have an abortion Shelley refused and left once more, never to be seen again. Of course, Charlie didn’t bother her again, as Tracy proved just as rotten as he was, and murdered him not long after… Deals of the Day 14,500 five-star reviews later, this cult sleep spray is discounted for Black Friday Cold mornings are coming and this is the dressing gown I want to live in We're adding this discounted NEOM gift set straight to basket Want an LED face mask for less? This Black Friday deal could save you hundreds This teeth whitening sale could save you up to 64% before Black Friday Arrow MORE: Coronation Street clarifies star’s ‘slip of the tongue’ over missing Audrey Arrow MORE: Michael Greco deletes social media as Danny Dyer issues explosive response to Danny Hatchard feud Arrow MORE: Coronation Street star in hospital after falling unwell The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.