Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver ‘dropped hints’ about exit before cobbles departure
Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver confirmed at the weekend that she is leaving the ITV soap after 25 years of playing Eileen Grimshaw - and it seems she may have hinted at her exit before then
Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver may have dropped a hint about her impending departure from the ITV soap several months ago. The actress, who has played Eileen Grimshaw on and off since 2000, confirmed her exit over the weekend after 25 years on the show.
In a statement, Sue, 61, said: “I’ve had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street. 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.”
It’s understood that Sue made the decision to leave in the summer, following her stint in the Sister Act musical tour, where she played Mother Superior. Her exit storyline is set to air in the spring.
Sue will leave Corrie in spring (Image: ITV)
Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks added: “We’re sad to bid farewell to the wonderful Sue Cleaver. Over the past 25 years, Eileen Grimshaw has been at the heart of some of the most memorable and iconic Corrie storylines, and her onscreen rivalry with Gail Platt will undoubtedly go down in Corrie folklore.”
“There’s certainly no-one quite like Eileen, and her character will be hugely missed on the cobbles. We wish Sue all the very best as she embarks on her next exciting chapter.”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
In a previous interview with Prima magazine, Sue hinted at a desire for change, stating: “I just feel like the world really is my oyster now, and there’s so much available out there. There’s so much that you can do.”
She continued: “I feel much more clear about who I am now. But don’t get me wrong, I’m still a work in progress. I don’t think any of us can sit there and say, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m completely sorted, I’m completely secure about everything.’ That’s just not how life works. But when those sticky thoughts come up, I’m much more likely to be able to see them for what they are, and that’s the difference.”
Meanwhile, Good Morning Britain’s Richard Arnold revealed on Monday’s show that filming for Sue’s exit has commenced, and he’s been “reliably informed” that her character, Eileen, will not meet a fatal end, leaving room for a potential future return.