Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver set to be replaced as she exits ‘dream job’

Coronation Street icon Sue Cleaver has handed her “dream” job over to a former co-star. The 61-year-old actress, who has been an icon on Corrie since 2001, where she played Eileen Grimshaw, took a break earlier this year to star as Mother Superior in the touring musical production of Sister Act.

Sue revealed that Corrie producers allowed her a “few months grace” to embrace the opportunity. Having played the part across the UK, she returned to her role as Eileen Grimshaw on the street.

With Sister Act still on tour, Wendi Peters, known to Corrie fans, will step into the role when the show hits Liverpool later this month.

Cilla, who played Chesney and Fiz’s mum, waved goodbye to the street in 2007, with a short return in 2014. Since leaving, Wendi has graced our screens in shows like Hetty Feather, Mr Sunshine, Midsomer Murders, and even popped up in BBC’s Doctors.

The musical adaptation of the Whoopi Goldberg classic is set to dazzle audiences at the likes of Nottingham, Swansea and Liverpool. With a runtime of 2.5 hours, the show has garnered stellar reviews, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Speaking about the show, she told OK!: “I’ve finished Sister Act but I’m missing everybody hugely. I had the most wonderful time doing that show – I hadn’t been on stage for 30 years. I just thought ‘I’m going to embrace this, I’m going to do it’. Even though I was scared and even though it was the unknown, I thought ‘nope, this is fabulous. Let’s just go for this’ and I did.

“I had the most amazing time. We played to full houses everywhere and had standing ovations. I will miss everybody hugely but you’ve got to finish one thing to start the next thing.”

Sue described a theatre show as a “dream” job and confessed she would take a break from the Cobbles again if needed.