Hayley Anne Cropper (previously Harold Patterson) was a fictional character from the British television soap opera, Coronation Street, played by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh. The character first appeared in the episode first broadcast on 26 January 1998. Hayley was the first transgender character in a British soap opera and was the first permanent transgender character in the world of serialised drama. She is perhaps best known for her marriage to Roy Cropper (David Neilson).