Coronation Street star talks Jenny and Carla's clash aftermath

Coronation Street spoilers follow.

Sally Ann Matthews has revealed the aftermath of Jenny and Carla's big row in Coronation Street.

The two are now at odds because Carla has taken issue with Jenny moving on with boyfriend Leo Thompkins so soon after the tragic death of her former husband Johnny.

"Everyone is probably thinking that Jenny's a bit of a cougar here but no one's really saying anything so she can kind of ignore it," Sally Ann Matthews has said in reaction to Carla and Jenny's rift.

jenny connor, carla barlow, coronation street

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"But when Carla comes into the pub and tells Jenny that she still hasn't sent the money she promised to Kate and suggests it's because she's been a bit distracted by this young guy and whatever he's after, then Jenny takes umbrage and Carla and Jenny have a stand-up row.

"Even though Jenny's really defiant, I think there's a bit of her that's worried that Carla's right, this is ridiculous, I'm twice his age, I should end this."

Carla taking issue with Jenny causes some hurt feelings since she's already been sensitive about the age difference between herself and Leo.

"It's twofold, it's other people sticking their oar in but also at the back of her mind there's this reality check that she's 21 years older than him and they're at very different points in their lives, yes he's saying this now but he might change his mind tomorrow," Matthews explained.

jenny connor, daisy midgeley and carla barlow in coronation street

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"So at the back of her mind she doesn't want to invest too much in case she gets hurt. But equally it feels great, she's listening to other people and not really trusting her own judgement because of this fundamental difference between them, the age gap."

Jenny ultimately decides to ignore Carla's warning and take a huge step in her relationship by inviting Leo to move in with her.

"Leo asks her to go and watch him play rugby again but with Carla's words ringing in her ears, and Jenny listening to her head and not her heart, she decides that she's not going to go and when the match is over she's going to tell him it's all off," Matthews said.

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"Daisy thinks she's daft, she can see how happy Leo makes Jenny. Then they get a phone call from a teammate of Leo's to say he's had an accident and been knocked unconscious. As soon as Jenny hears this her heart's in her mouth and she dashes off to the hospital.

"She knows what she feels is real but there's people thinking how much do you know about this man, is he conning you, so she's torn. Then as soon as Carla's put a nail in the coffin she comes along and takes it out and says I can see how happy he makes you, it just hurts to see you moving on because it should be you and my dad behind that bar. So it's Carla's blessing in the end that allows Jenny to follow her heart, not her head."

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Asked whether she thinks Leo and Jenny will be together long-term, Matthews answered: "I think it could work between them, Johnny died in October but really their marriage ended this time last year with all the lies, deception and Johnny going to prison so really it's not that quick. When Johnny died she loved him but they weren't in a relationship.

"She's trusting Leo and trusting his word, that he does want to be with her and she's more important than children. If she allows herself to believe what he's saying then I see no reason why it can't work, other than that she lives in Coronation Street."

Finally, Matthews spoke about the excitement of working with a new on-screen love interest after so many years of Jenny and Johnny together.

jenny connor, daniel osbourne, coronation street

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"I think it's really different and a story that hasn't been done so much before which is nice, it's always the other way around, Johnny was about 15 years older than Jenny and no one batted an eyelid," she said.

"I think it's very real, she didn't go out trying to recapture her youth, Jenny has usually gone for an older man and now she's turning that all on its head."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7.30pm on ITV.