Derbyshire has a reputation for reclusiveness. She never joins fellow cast members at awards ceremonies or other events, and has never yet appeared in any of the publicity videos on the "Coronation Street" website. She has only twice appeared on screen out of character, when in 1988 she gave a rare interview in a documentary tribute to cast member and good friend Margot Bryant, who played Minnie Caldwell. In 2005, she also gave an interview for an ITV programme aimed at deaf viewers, speaking about working with the deaf actor Ali Briggs, who was playing Emily's niece Freda Burgess, for which she was interviewed on the set and dressed in character. She also appeared, along with the rest of the "Coronation Street" cast, in episodes of "This Is Your Life" for Patricia Phoenix in 1972, Jack Howarth in 1974, Julie Goodyear in 1980, William Roache in 1985 and Anne Kirkbride in 1998.