Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver has announced her departure from the soap after a remarkable 25-year stint.
The actress, who has portrayed the straight-talking Eileen Grimshaw for a quarter of a century, revealed just days into the New Year that she’s ready to step away from the famous cobbles.
Over her tenure, Sue’s character has been embroiled in some of the show’s most dramatic plots, including her son Todd fathering a child with Sarah Louise Platt in his teenage years.
However, it seems that Sue, now 61, is keen to explore new ventures, although fans can expect to see her on their screens until late spring. In a bit of good news for Corrie devotees, it’s been confirmed that her character won’t be killed off, leaving the door open for Eileen to potentially return and stir up trouble once again.
Reflecting on her time on the show, Sue said: “I’ve had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street,” Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, she added: “The door is still firmly open but as I reached my 60th year, I decided it was time to embrace change, look for new adventures and live fearlessly.”
Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver has announced her departure from the soap after a remarkable 25-year stint
(Image: SCU)
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An insider also told the newspaper that while Sue has cherished her time on the programme, she feels it’s time to branch out and try something new, reports the Mirror.
It’s understood that discussions about her exit began last summer when she took an extended break from the series to star in the theatre production of Sister Act. The source further revealed that these early talks “gave writers plenty of time to create a strong exit storyline for her, which viewers will love.”
Sue previously has opened up about her feelings on Loose Women regarding the departure of her on-screen rival Helen Worth, known for her iconic role as Gail Platt. Worth left the show after her 50-year stint, with her final scenes airing on Christmas Day.
The door is open Eileen Grimshaw to return
(Image: ITV)
Sue expressed her sadness, saying: “Helen leaving, I can’t tell you it’s really awful, it’s really sad. We are all devastated. I mean she has deserved it, I mean 50 years is extraordinary isn’t it.”
She continued to praise her colleague: “One thing I tell you is, she is the most generous, empathetic, humble human being you will ever meet, and everybody loves her.”
Sue also reflected on Helen’s impact on the cast, particularly Jack P. Shepherd and Tina O’Brien, who play her children on the show: “If you speak to Jack Shepherd and Tina O’Brien who play her kids in the show, they will say she has been a mentor. She has taught them everything they know, from how you behave on the set, etiquette.”
Coronation Street is on ITV at 8pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and available to stream from 7am on ITVX