Coronation Street legend, Sue Cleaver, graced the cobbles as the iconic Eileen Grimshaw for 25 years before bowing out this year and has since moved on to new roles, including a turn treading the boards as Annabel in Snake in the Grass.
Having played the role throughout the month of October, Sue recently gave her final performance, with several former co-stars in the audience.
Helen Flanagan who played Rosie Webster, Daniel Brocklebank, beloved as vicar Billy Mayhew and Charlie De Melo who starred as Imran Habeeb all attended the final show.
Sue uploaded a carousel of images with her fellow Corrie stars to Instagram, which was flooded with positive comments.
‘Wonderful to see you darling. Thank you for a fabulous night at the theatre. I enjoyed it so much!!’ Daniel wrote. ‘You were incredible’ Helen added.
Another comment read: ‘I am so mighty proud of you. You absolutely smashed this and deserve all the accolades that have come your way. Now to recharge for the next adventures. Bravo sis’ while another commenter said: ‘You were fantastic! Mooooooore’.
‘I watched the performance yesterday at the matinee. Well done!!!! Fantastic performance. Having been in this play as an ammeter! Brilliant!! Loved it’ raved another commenter, while another added: ‘It was such a wonderful play quite the difference from seeing you in sister act! (loved sister act too though!) now to have some well earned rest!!’
Other audience members left comments, saying ‘It was a fantastic play and the three of you gave fabulous performances. Absolutely loved it! Hope you’re going to get a rest now!’ and ‘Fabulous performance! Absolutely loved it! Fantastic all 3 of you xx’
25 years of Eileen
Arriving alongside her sons, Jason (Ryan Thomas) and Todd Grimshaw (now Gareth Pierce), Eileen found herself a job at Street Cars as an operator.
The Grimshaws were later rocked when Todd, after months of struggling with his sexuality while engaged to Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien), birthing an iconic feud between Eileen and Gail Platt (Helen Worth), which resulted in a plethora of delightfully acidic scenes and a number of hair-pulling, face-scratching catfights.
Eileen was later taken when a woman abandoned a baby on her doorstep, claiming Jason was the father. Just as Eileen grew attached to the child, her mother came to reclaim her, leaving Eileen heartbroken. She later also discovered she had a half-sister in her new neighbour Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh-Jupe), who she formed a strong relationship with.
After reigniting her long-standing beef with Gail (and igniting another fight that spilled from Audrey’s salon into the street), Eileen flirted with the idea of a relationship with Michael Rodwell (Les Dennis), though this was short-lived and gave way to a relationship between Eileen and all-around-wrong’n, Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre).
Despite warnings from Anna Windass (Debbie Rush), who Pat’d previously raped and tormented, Eileen married Pat, while he was holding Andy Carver (Oliver Farnworth) hostage, before murdering him after forcing him to murder business partner Vinny Ashford (Ian Kelsey).
When Eileen discovered the truth, she faced a final showdown with her husband, pushing him into the sea as the two holidayed at a cottage near a light house.
Pat survived the fall, however, returning to terrorise the street before ultimately being stabbed by his true arch nemesis, Anna.
Eileen’s next story kicked off when sister Julie returned with the tragic news that she had terminal cancer. Eileen endeavoured to help Julie live life to the fullest prior to her heart breaking death. Prior to passing, however, she encouraged Eileen to end her relationship with George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley), after Eileen’s realisation that she only loved him platonically.
With the opportunity to invest in Jason’s new bar venture in Thailand, Eileen decided to leave the street behind and join him overseas.
Speaking upon the announcement of her decision to leave, 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.’
Soap boss Kate Brooks added: ‘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.’
