January 4th 2025.
A major character on Coronation Street is saying goodbye to the famous cobbles. After 25 incredible years, actress Sue Cleaver has decided to leave the beloved ITV show. Fans will surely miss her portrayal of the bold and outspoken Eileen Grimshaw, a character she has brought to life since 2000.
From the very beginning, Eileen found herself working at StreetCars, a taxi firm run by Vikram Desai and Steve McDonald. She took on the job to support her two teenage children, Jason and Todd, who were quite a handful. Eileen's journey on the show has been filled with remarkable storylines, including Todd's groundbreaking reveal as Corrie's first gay character.
Reflecting on her time on the show, Sue shared, "I've had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street." Thankfully, the producers have confirmed that Eileen will not be killed off, leaving the door open for a potential return in the future. Sue also added, "As I reached my 60th year, I decided it was time to embrace change, look for new adventures, and live fearlessly."
It is believed that Sue made the decision to leave during the summer while appearing in the Sister Act musical tour, marking her return to the stage after three decades. Fans can expect to see her character's exit storyline in the spring.
Corrie producer Kate Brooks expressed sadness at bidding farewell to Sue and her iconic character. Eileen's onscreen rivalry with Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, will surely be remembered in Corrie folklore. Kate also mentioned that there is no one quite like Eileen and she will be greatly missed on the cobbles. She wished Sue all the best as she embarks on her next chapter.
Some of Eileen's most memorable moments include her infamous street fight with Gail Rodwell, who also recently left the show after 50 years. In her exit storyline, Gail left the street for a new life in France after finally finding happiness by marrying Jesse Chadwick, played by John Thomson.
Eileen and Gail's feud began due to issues between their children, Sarah and Todd, but it escalated into a physical fight on the doorstep of the street. The two women tussled on the ground and hurled insults at each other before being pulled apart in a dramatic TV moment. This was the culmination of a storyline where Todd struggled with his sexuality, had a relationship with nurse Karl Foster, and eventually came out in a pivotal moment for British soap.
Similar to Gail, Eileen has had her fair share of relationship troubles and flings with various men, including Dennis Stringer, Ed Jackson, Michael Rodwell, and Jerry Morton. She also famously married the serial killer Pat Phelan.
Sue has won numerous awards for her portrayal of Eileen, including Best Soap Actress at the TV Choice Awards in 2007 and the British Soap Awards in 2006. She also appeared on the 2022 season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, where she opened up about reconnecting with her birth mother and was eliminated third.
The TV legend shared that her family has bizarre connections to other Coronation Street stars, such as Helen Worth, who is the godmother to one of her half-sisters, and John Bowe, who played Duggie Ferguson on the show and is now married to her other half-sister. Sue also released a book in 2024 called A Work In Progress, where she talks about not feeling past her prime.
In recent years, she has appeared as a panellist on the popular ITV chat show Loose Women. If you have any soap or TV stories, videos, or pictures, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.
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