As the UK celebrates a decade since the legalisation of same-sex marriage, Coronation Street icon Jane Hazlegrove is marking a personal milestone: her 10th wedding anniversary with wife and fellow actress Isobel Middleton. But in a heartfelt revelation, Hazlegrove has opened up about the painful reality that shadows her love story — daily homophobia.

Known to millions as the warm but sharp-tongued Bernie Winter on Corrie, Hazlegrove has long been a proud voice in the LGBTQ+ community. But even now, in 2025, she admits: “You still meet homophobia every day.” Her words, though quietly spoken in a recent interview, landed like a thunderclap.

“I just smile at the homophobes and try to educate them and lead from the front,” she said. There is no bitterness in her voice — only resilience. A quiet strength honed from decades of learning how to endure, push back, and rise above.

Jane and Isobel’s story is one of both endurance and joy. They met thirty years ago, fell in love in a world that was far less accepting, and made their relationship official with a civil partnership in 2010. When same-sex marriage was finally legalised in England and Wales in 2014, they didn’t hesitate. In 2015, they were wed — and celebrated their union as a victory, not just for themselves, but for love in all its forms.

Now, nearly ten years on from that joyful day, Hazlegrove says she still finds it hard to believe it really happened.

“I just can’t believe that I’m allowed to love this woman and live the life that I live without being persecuted and hounded,” she confessed. “There was a time when I truly didn’t think that would ever be possible.”

Yet, even as she reflects with awe and gratitude, the shadow of discrimination remains. The everyday microaggressions. The cold shoulders. The cruel remarks muttered under breath or shouted from cars. Prejudice hasn’t vanished — it’s simply changed its shape.

Hazlegrove, however, refuses to retreat into silence. Her visibility on Britain’s most beloved soap isn’t just about representation — it’s about survival, solidarity, and setting an example. Playing Bernie Winter, she injects warmth and humour into every scene, but off-camera, her courage is just as evident.

As someone who once feared being recognised at Pride marches, Hazlegrove now beams with pride when recalling how far she and others have come.

“I used to walk in fear that someone from my work might see me,” she shared in a past article. “Now, I stand proudly on the Coronation Street float, waving to thousands — young people who can see themselves in us.”

Her message to younger LGBTQ+ individuals is powerful: you are not alone.

That belief is echoed in how Hazlegrove uses her platform. She doesn’t just act — she advocates. Her interviews, public appearances, and unwavering presence in Coronation Street have helped normalize queer identities in British homes.

And yet, she knows the fight isn’t over.

“It’s not about a big gesture every day,” she said. “Sometimes, just smiling, just holding hands with your partner in public — that’s an act of protest. That’s visibility. That’s change.”

Hazlegrove’s openness has inspired many, both within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. Fans have called her an unsung hero — not because of soap plotlines, but because of how she embodies strength through gentleness.

As she prepares to celebrate her wedding anniversary with Isobel — a milestone built on decades of quiet resistance and fierce love — she’s not just honouring the past. She’s making space for the future. For those who still feel afraid. For those who are still finding their voice. For those who, like she once did, wonder if their love will ever be seen as equal.

“I never thought I’d live a life like this,” she said, softly. “And I want others to know that they can, too.”

As Jane Hazlegrove continues to light up the screen, she also lights a path forward — one that challenges prejudice, celebrates authenticity, and shows that even in the face of daily hate, love endures.