Leanne Battersby (also Tilsley and Barlow) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, "Coronation Street", played by Jane Danson. It was announced in February 1997 that a "family from hell" would be introduced to "Coronation Street". This included Les (Bruce Jones) and Janice Battersby (Vicky Entwistle), Les' daughter Leanne and Janice's daughter Toyah (Georgia Taylor). Leanne made her first appearance on 4 July 1997. Danson left the series on 23 August 2000 and returned on 7 June 2004. Danson later took maternity leave in 2006 and returned in early 2007. Danson took another maternity break in 2009 and returned in the same year. On 27 September 2017, Danson took an extended break from the show and returned three months later on 15 December 2017.