Coronation Street legend Sue Cleaver is said to have quit her role of Eileen Grimshaw on the programme after 25 years but her character could return

A Coronation Street icon has quit after 25 years.

Actress Sue Cleaver has played no-nonsense Eileen Grimshaw for the past 25 years but just days after ringing in the New Year, she’s admitted it’s time for her to step back from the cobbles. Over the past 25 years, Sue’s character has been at the centre of some of the biggest storylines, including her son, Todd, fathering a child in his teens with Sarah Louise Platt.

But it appears that Sue, 61, is setting her sights on other projects but will remain on screens until late Spring. There’s good news for fans of the Weatherfield based soap opera though as her character won’t be k!lled off by bosses – meaning there is a chance for Eileen to return to the cobbles and cause mischief once more.

“I’ve had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street,” Sue said in a statement shared with the media. She went on say “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.” Meanwhile, Sue said that she has has “adored” her time on the show, she’s realised it’s time to try new projects.

Sue will appear on screen until the spring time

It’s believed that conversations about her departure first started last summer after she took an extended period of leave from the show to take part in the theatre production of Sister Act as as Mother Superior. The early conversations “gave writers plenty of time to create a strong exit storyline for her, which viewers will love.”

Meanwhile, Corrie boss Kate Brooks said in a statement: “We’re sad to bid farewell to the wonderful Sue Cleaver. Over the past twenty five 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.”

Corrie boss Kate Brooks said Sue’s on-screen rivalry with Gail Platt (Helen Worth) will go down in soap folklore ( 
Image:
ITV)

However, Sue isn’t the only soap legend to bow out of Corrie in the past year. Her on-screen rival, Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth departed the show after 50 years on Christmas Day. Despite their characters often being at loggerheads, Sue said on Loose Women: “Helen leaving, I can’t tell you it’s really awful, it’s really sad. We are all devastated. I mean she has deserved it, I mean 50 years is extraordinary isn’t it.”

She added: “One thing I tell you is, she is the most generous, empathetic, humble human being you will ever meet, and everybody loves her.” Reflecting on Helen’s enduring presence on Coronation Street, Sue remarked: “If you speak to Jack Shepherd and Tina O’Brien who play her kids in the show, they will say she has been a mentor. She has taught them everything they know, from how you behave on the set, etiquette.”