Beverley Callard: Fair City Star Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Beverley Callard, the celebrated actress best known for her decades-long role as Liz McDonald on the British soap opera Coronation Street, has revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis came just moments before she was scheduled to begin filming scenes for her new role in the Irish drama Fair City, as she shared on Friday’s Late Late Show.

Callard, 68, described the surreal timing of receiving the news. “I’d had some tests just before I left the UK, and literally 15/20 minutes before [my first Fair City scene] I was in my dressing room at Fair City, getting ready to go on, and I was quite nervous, thinking, ‘I hope everybody thinks I’m alright…’” she recounted to host Patrick Kielty. “My consultant rang me and said, ‘You’ve got to come back to the UK.’ I said, ‘Well, I can’t possibly, you know? I’ve just taken a new job.’ I said, ‘I’m away for a month’ – and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Despite the shock, Callard emphasized her positive outlook and determination to continue working. “But I’m fine. I’m absolutely fine,” she stated. “My head was a bit mashed for the first few days. It’s very early stages. And I’m along with, you know, thousands of other women [who have been diagnosed] as well.” She is scheduled to return to the UK on Saturday for further testing, including assessments of her lymph nodes and glands, followed by an operation and radiotherapy. She intends to return to Dublin and Fair City shortly thereafter.

Callard’s casting in Fair City, as Lily – the long-lost mother of Gwen Connolly (played by Emily Lamey) – was finalized almost a year ago. She admitted to becoming “addicted” to the RTÉ One soap during the intervening period, watching episodes online while in the UK. Her debut is slated for Thursday, February 19th, on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

The actress explained her decision to publicly disclose her diagnosis on the Late Late Show, citing a desire for transparency and a connection to other women facing similar challenges. “The world is full of strong, feisty women, and I love strong, feisty women,” she said. “And I just thought, rather than read about it in a newspaper and it all being distorted and everything else, I just said it.” She confirmed her family and close friends were already aware of her condition and are providing support.

Beyond her professional commitments, Callard also shared her enthusiasm for a potential permanent move to Ireland with her husband, Jon McEwan. “We truly love it so much,” she said. “It’s blown us away this month. We [will] relocate here. We’ve got a house near Wicklow, and we get the keys on 1 March.”

Callard’s career has been largely defined by her 31-year tenure on Coronation Street, a role that made her a household name in the UK. Her portrayal of Liz McDonald, a barmaid known for her fiery personality and numerous romantic entanglements, cemented her status as a television icon. The move to Fair City represents a new chapter for the actress, bringing her talents to an Irish audience and a different style of dramatic storytelling.

The news of Callard’s diagnosis comes as she embarks on this new professional venture, demonstrating a remarkable resilience and commitment to her craft. Her willingness to share her personal journey publicly underscores a broader conversation about health awareness and the importance of support networks.

Fair City airs on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.