Coronation Street legend Sue Cleaver has revealed that she’s trying to be ‘brave’ after deciding to leave the ITV soap.
The Loose Women panellist, 61, has played the outspoken Eileen Grimshaw since 2000, but will depart in the coming months.
The character was soon employed by Vikram Desai (Chris Bisson) and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) to work at taxi firm StreetCars, a means to provide for her her two teenage children, Jason (Ryan Thomas) and Todd (then Bruno Langley).
Eileen went on to feature in some of the show’s most famous storylines, including Todd coming out as Corrie’s first-ever gay character.
In 2017, she unknowingly married serial killer Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre). During a dramatic confrontation on a cliffside in Whitehaven, he fell into the water and was presumed dead.
She is also best known for her long-running feud with Gail Platt (Helen Worth), who departed at Christmas after 50 years.
Speaking about her time on the cobbles, Sue 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,’ she added.
In a new interview, she’s now admitted that she’s the ‘happiest’ she’s ever been.
‘These few years have probably been my happiest decade. No matter what you do in life, we all get to that point where society tells us we’re at the end,’ Sue told Yours Magazine.
‘I hear empty nesters say: “That’s it, my work is done now,” but you can recreate yourself, and be brave.’
She’s also urged others in the same situation as her to ‘exercise their courage’ in life, and to find ‘joy’.
‘People don’t have courage – it’s a muscle and, like everything else, you exercise it. Stop giving yourself a hard time, because you are unique and fantastic,’ she said.
‘Use the internet to research what it is you want to do, or make a phone call to find out more.
‘You don’t have to do big challenges, or write books, but I think the biggest thing is to do things that bring you joy.’
Away from the cobbles, she recently appeared as Mother Superior in the UK tour of Sister Act, and also enjoyed time Down Under in the I’m a Celebrity… Get me Out of Here! jungle.
Speaking of her Corrie exit, the show’s producer Kate Brooks said: ‘We’re sad to bid farewell to the wonderful Sue Cleaver.
‘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.’
In upcoming scenes, Katy Cavanagh will reprise her much-loved role of Julie Carp to coincide with Sue’s final plotline.
Her character bumps into Todd (Gareth Pierce) at the Chariot Square Hotel, and is thrilled to reunite with her nephew.
It soon becomes clear that she’s not being entirely honest about something, with the exact circumstances for her return being kept under wraps.
