Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has revealed the circumstances under which she will leave Coronation Street this year – marking an end to Eileen Grimshaw’s 25 years on the cobbles.
Joining in May 2000, Eileen soon became one of the soap’s most iconic figures, and has been at the heart of some of its biggest storylines, from her feud with Gail Platt (Helen Worth) to her relationship with murderous Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre).
It was announced earlier this year that Eileen would be hanging up her Street Cars radio and departing the Cobbles for good.
Her exit comes soon after the death of Eileen’s sister, Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh) whose recent demise has left Eileen questioning her future in Weatherfield.
Thankfully, it seems that she will leave under happier circumstances than her recently departed sister… and isn’t being killed off.
Weighing in during a recent interview, Sue has shared some of the details of her upcoming exit, including a long-awaited reunion with screen son Ryan Thomas.
Speaking to The Mirror, Sue shared what the soap had planned for Eileen’s goodbye, revealing her part in the character’s send-off.
‘There was always the risk that they might have killed me off, but they were supportive and said “Eileen’s a big part of the show”,’ Sue revealed.
‘They asked what kind of ending I wanted, and I said I didn’t want to call it a day, because I love the place. I said I wanted a happy ending. Basically, the journey Eileen is taking is pretty much what I’m choosing to do.’
‘I asked Ryan to come back over a year ago,’she said. ‘He had no intention of coming back into Corrie, but last April I said ‘look Ryan, I need you to do me a favour. I’ve not told work yet, but I’m going to leave and I’d really like you to come back and take me out.
‘And bless him, he said: ‘well I can’t refuse that can I?’ “It was really special and lovely. I felt very supported having him there with me on that final day. We’ve both got busy lives, but we’ve always stayed in touch. I’m very fond of him.’
Jason’s long-awaited return to Weatherfield is in honour of aunt Julie’s funeral, where he reunites with mum Eileen and brother Todd (Gareth Pierce).
It is believed that Eileen will then decide to pack up and join Jason in Thailand, where he’s been living since 2016.
Of her choice to leave the soap, Sue said: ‘I’m at a stage where I thought it was important to forge a new path for myself. My responsibilities as a parent had ended, and it was the right time for a change.
‘It had been in my mind for the last four years to leave, so there’s been a lot of preparation and planning and thinking about it and making sure, but it definitely feels right. It’s exciting times. I’m not scared about the future. The only scary thing was making the decision that it was time. But once I’d made the decision, I knew it was the right thing for me.’
Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks paid tribute to the star, saying: ‘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.
With Sue already having filmed her final scenes, screen partner Tony Maudsley (who plays George Shuttleworth) shared an image of himself, Sue, Gareth and Ryan in the iconic Grimshaw family home.
