Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver reveals star who is 'impossible' to work with ahead of her exit

Daily Record

10-05-2025

ITV Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver is getting ready to say goodbye to the cobbles after 25 years and she has revealed what she really thinks about her co-stars before she goes.
Coronation Street legend Sue Cleaver, who is best known for playing the beloved Eileen Grimshaw for over 25 years in the ITV soap, is preparing to say her goodbyes to the cobbles and she has revealed her true feelings for her co-stars before she goes. Reflecting on her time in the soap, the 61-year-old shared some amusing tales from behind the scenes, particularly during the filming of intense story lines, such as the recent scenes that saw the death of Eileen's sister Julie Carp, portrayed by Katy Cavanagh.
Despite the upsetting scenes, Sue admitted she occasionally broke character and erupted into laughter at the most "inappropriate" moments. During an appearance on the podcast Off Script, she recalled a hilarious moment where she couldn't help but giggle alongside co-star Katy.
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The actress said: "I laughed with Katy Cavanagh when she was dead on the floor, bless her heart." The pair were left in stitches when one of Sue's tears landed in Katy's nostril, leading to a moment of hilarity amidst the drama.
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Sue also named her fellow cast member Simon Gregson, who portrays Steve McDonald, as the main culprit for causing fits of laughter as she described him as "impossible" to work with due to their mutual inability to keep a straight face around one another, Leicester Mercury reports.
Their shared workplace, the taxi firm Street Cars, features a prop diary that appears to be used for business in the show.
However, Sue revealed that the contents of the diary are rather cheeky and it is certainly not filled with script-related notes.
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She explained: "We have a diary where we can be seen writing little notes. Really what is in that book is the most disgusting photographs of 'Sue by Simon, aged 4.'".
Sue could not stop herself sharing an amusing anecdote, admitting that she got her own back with a similar joke, only for the diary to "mysteriously" vanish one day - likely safeguarded from potential mortification should it ever be discovered.
Speaking of her impending exit, Sue revealed her emotions surrounding her "perfect" concluding scenes that fans will see on screen in the next few weeks.
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Keeping tight-lipped on the specifics, she said: "I can't give anything away, but it's absolutely fabulous. They really did me proud.
"When I read it and saw it, I was really emotional. It's the perfect ending. It is everything that I wanted.
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"They asked me what I would like, and I decided a year ago that I was gonna go."
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Sue also opened up on Ryan Thomas reviving his role playing her son Jason, especially for her farewell episodes.
She recounted: "I called Ryan Thomas and said, 'Ryan, I've not told work yet, but I'm gonna leave.
"Would you come back? I'd really like you to take me out."
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He said: "I wasn't planning to, but I can't refuse that, can I?' It just felt really right that he was there."
The news comes as Coronation Street fans were also left stunned after realising who Sue's former Coronation Street star husband is.
Between 1993 and 2003, Sue was married to actor James Quinn, who longtime Corrie fans will recognise from various roles on the soap since 1989.
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His first role came as factory manager Peter Anderson, who interviewed Vera Duckworth, played by Liz Dawn, for a position at Brown's Textiles.
In more recent times, he played DS Willets between 2013 and 2021, making appearances following the Rovers Return fire in March 2013 and the uncovering of Pat Phelan's crimes in 2018.