Coronation Street mainstay Sue Cleaver, aka Street Cars dispatcher Eileen Grimshaw, has filmed her final scenes after 25 years on the hallowed cobbles, according to The Sun.
The actress, who portrays Eileen Grimshaw in the ITV soap, already confirmed she planned to leave the soap to “embrace change” and step outside her “comfort zone” after turning 60 in 2023.
The actress told ITV’s Loose Women in January: “I’m now 61 and I feel I’m now at a stage in my life, like most mums we have responsibilities, we have other things we have to consider [and] we’re bringing up our families.
“And I’ve got to the stage, my son is grown up now, he’s 29, I have no responsibilities left and I want to do something new.
Cleaver added: “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.”
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Cleaver reportedly made the decision to look for pastures new last summer, after appearing in the Sister Act musical tour, the actresses return to the stage after around a three decade absence while she focused on her TV work.
As part of Eileen’s final storyline, her sister Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh) has returned to the show, revealing to Eileen and her son Todd (Gareth Pierce) that she is living with stage four cancer. The duo have now decided to help Julie live her life to the absolute full.
Before Eileen departs Weatherfield, for good we can look forward to an emotional return for her other son Jason (Ryan Thomas), for many years half of a storyline-packed double act with brother Todd.
Corrie producer Kate Brooks said of Cleaver’s departure: “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.
She added: “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.”
No specific date has yet been given for Eileen’s departure, as yet although it is expected to be in “late Spring” 2025.
Pic: ITV/YouTube
