Corrie star admits she took one thing for granted after filming soap exit
Sue Cleaver, who has played Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street for 25 years, has opened up on her exit from the ITV soap, set to air next week
Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver has shared a 'strange' realisation ahead of her final appearance next week.
The Corrie legend spoke of her feelings having filmed her final scenes for the ITV soap. Her departure from the soap airs next week, having etched Eileen Grimshaw into the hearts of viewers over an impressive 25-year stint.
Sue announced earlier this year that she was set to bid farewell to the Cobbles and her beloved character.
Her tenure on the show has been marked by iconic feuds, notably her fiery clashes with Corrie legend Gail Platt (portrayed by Helen Worth), and a series of ill-fated love interests.
The actress also remarkably portrayed Sue surviving a brush with demise at the hands of notorious villain Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre).
And as her final appearance looms on the horizon next week, she reflected on her concluding days filming and the poignant moment when the reality of leaving the street sank in.
In a heart-to-heart with Inside Soap magazine, the Corrie veteran also admitted that there was one thing she had taken for granted over the years. She reflected upon the two-and-a-half decades on the soap.
Sue said: "It's not so much the job, but it's also the people that we take for granted. They're just there all the time, and then you go, 'Oh God, that's it. That is the end.' That is strange."
In true Corrie fashion, Cleaver's climactic scenes ensure that Eileen doesn't fade quietly away, reports Belfast Live, offering her a flurry of dramatic moments up until her swansong on the programme. In recent episodes, she was seen playing a pivotal role in her on-screen sister Julie Carp's final scenes as she succumbed to cancer.
Amidst the grief of this tragic loss, Eileen found herself accused of contributing to her sister's death, with allegations that she had supplied medication to aid her demise.
But it was later established that this wasn't the case, and we are soon set to see Eileen bid farewell to the street alongside her eldest son, Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas).
With Jason poised for an unexpected return to the show next week, viewers will witness Eileen's decision to leave the soap and embark on a new chapter as she heads off to Thailand with Jason.
Coronation Street is due to air this evening on ITV (Wednesday, May 28) at 8 pm.
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Zara Holland - flouting lockdown In January 2021, Zara Holland was ordered to pay a £4,500 fine or go to jail for nine months for breaching Barbados' tough Covid rules. The former Miss England and her boyfriend Elliott Love were arrested at the airport when they had attempted to flee the country after Elliott tested positive for Covid. The couple had been given red wristbands and told to remain in their room at the £300-a-night Sugar Bay until they were taken to a quarantine centre on the north of the island. Instead, they booked a British Airways flight back to the UK, which would have been packed with fellow British holiday makers, cut off their wristbands and took a taxi to the airport. Zara then appeared in court in Barbados while her boyfriend isolated in the island's quarantine centre and pleaded guilty to leaving the Sugar Bay hotel on December 29 while she was under quarantine. 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Kyle Ashman - machete attack Kyle had been due to appear on Love Island when it launches next Monday but ITV confirmed this week the 23-year-old from Stafford has chosen not to enter the villa and decided to leave the show for personal reasons. The news came amid The Sun's reports that Kyle was involved in an machete attack in February when masked thugs stormed a wake and hacked at a dad with a blade. Kyle was one of two arrested by police but he was released with no further action and he has now confirmed he had no involvement in the incident, but has chosen to leave the ITV show regardless. Kyle told MailOnline: 'I fully cooperated with this police investigation and made it very clear that I had no involvement in this incident. 'I am not a violent person and any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterisation.' Meanwhile ITV added: 'For personal reasons, Kyle will not be entering the Love Island Villa as planned.' The Love Island line up was announced on Tuesday so Kyle's departure will have plunged the show into chaos ahead of Monday's launch episode. The Sun revealed they alerted bosses on Kyle being questioned in the attack but ITV said they were unaware of the incident and he was not flagged during the contestant checks. The incident on February 28 at The White Eagle Club in Stafford saw the victim, 38, nearly lose his arm after he was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment The incident on February 28 saw the victim, 38, nearly lose his arm after he was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment and kept it for around two weeks. Another mourner was reportedly glassed, one hit with a metal pole, and two people were run over by a car during the 15 minute attack at the The White Eagle Club in Stafford. Sources said the victim was attacked by three balaclava-clad thugs over an alleged £3,000 debt. He was injured by a blade that left him with a deep gash and has suffered tendon damage and is now unable to drive. Police confirmed yesterday that after the matter had been investigated Kyle and another individual were released with no further action only last month. A show source told the publication: 'ITV were entirely unaware of Kyle's past and, as he was not charged, it was not flagged as part of Love Island's stringent DBS checks. 'It's only right he can now return home to the UK to share his side of the story and therefore bosses took the decision that it was best for him not to enter the villa.' Staffordshire Police said on Monday: 'A 22-year-old man, from Stafford, was arrested on suspicion of wounding and affray. Another man, also 22 and from Stafford, was arrested on suspicion of affray. 'Both were questioned in custody and bailed with conditions while our enquiries continue.' Kyle, who works as a water operative, doesn't have a strong social media presence with just one Insta pic on his profile. Prior to his announced departure, Kyle said he was looking for 'someone that's fun, confident and just themselves'.
