'AS WOMEN WE CAN'T TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS'

We celebrate the latest triumphs of screen stars Sarah Lancashire and Suranne Jones as they share the secrets of their stellar careers

- MARC BAKER

Actresses Suranne Jones and Sarah Lancashire have a lot in common, not least that they are both national treasures having won legions of fans during their TV careers. They have also both setup television production companies (with husbands Laurence Akers and Peter Salmon) so they can develop their own shows.

Of course, both Suranne and Sarah first found fame on Coronation Street, as Karen McDonald and Raquel Watts respectively, and they each went on to wow viewers with gritty performances in police dramas created by star writer Sally Wainwright.

Sarah, 59, said she adored “every scene, every moment of Happy Valley and I know I will never forget it,” and last week she was “thrilled” to win a coveted Rose d’Or award for her role as Sergeant Catherine Cawood.

Suranne, 45, who starred alongside Lesley Sharp in Sally’s hit show Scott & Bailey, also heaped praise on the screenwriter’s work, telling OK!, “Her writing is so real and so human, and there are so many levels to it. It’s mucky and dirty and fun and musical. Scott & Bailey is such a good show.”

Despite this, Suranne swore she’d never play a detective again because of the jargon.

“But here I am!” she tells us, as season two of gripping BBC crime drama Vigil returns to our screens on Sunday nights.

We caught up with the acting legends to talk about their recent successes and the importance of strong female roles in TV...

SARAH LANCASHIRE

Congratulations on your Rose d’Or, Sarah. You have so many awards you must be running out of space!