Sue Cleaver, a Coronation Street legend and Loose Women actress, addresses the “depressing” talk of co-star conflicts as well as her Corrie exit and search for new horizons.
After leaving Weatherfield for good, Sue Cleaver anticipates a summer filled with new adventures and scenic walks. The Hertfordshire-born actress’s final scenes as Coronation Street ‘ s Eileen Grimshaw aired on 6 June and, as she’s quick to tell Love Sunday during our exclusive chat, she is very much about “embracing change and living fearlessly”.
The Loose Women regular, who is now 61, is determined to learn something about herself after 25 years on Corrie. I’ve made significant decisions to change and reinvent myself. This is the time of life when society wants you to just go away quietly”, says Sue.
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![Todd Grimshaw [GARETH PIERCE], Eileen Grimshaw [SUE CLEAVER] and Jason Grimshaw [RYAN THOMAS]](https://i0.wp.com/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/article35339423.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/3_Jason-Eileen-and-Todd.jpg?w=696&ssl=1)
She continues, “But this is the period, for a lot of women who have put themselves second – because they’ve brought up families, had mortgages, etcetera – when we hit an age and think, ‘ What now? I’m who?
Everything I’ve done in the past year has been about discovery and reinvention. I’d like to say I’m one of life’s learners, and I never stop learning. I’m just starting to question all the assumptions I had about myself as I get really interested in myself.
Her next professional venture will be on stage as she steps up to the screen later this summer for Bolton Octagon’s co-production of Snake In The Grass. It’s especially exciting, she explains, because it’s a” full circle “moment.
My first equity card was issued at the Bolton Octagon Theatre. I must’ve been in eight or nine plays there. It’s quite lovely to be returning to that place at this point in my life.
Of course, we also see the star as an occasional panellist on Loose Women , which is set for some big changes – including losing the studio audience – come January, amid a raft of ITV cuts.
I adore that program. It is fantastic. I’ve known all the girls for years, so, yeah, “she says, when we ask if she’s hoping for more appearances now that her work calendar is less full. What about the rumors about women engaged in combat and at war?
They always prefer to refer to “catfights,” but they don’t mention women, don’t they? They wouldn’t dream of saying that when it’s blokes presenting something. We are actually very close in reality. However, Denise [Welch] and I frequently interact while we are together.
“We’ve known each other for 25 years – we’re close friends and have a sort of shorthand in the way we communicate. I’ve never had a relationship with Denise in my life, despite what the media will say is “massive fallout”! We still have a long way to go, which makes it very depressing.
Sue has been having a quiet health battle onscreen. She describes having Type 2 diabetes as “running a mental marathon every day” despite having it for 29 years.
In the last three years, she’s relieved some of the mental load by wearing a Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor, which provides automatic glucose readings without the need for a finger prick.
“I can’t explain the mental exhaustion you experience; it’s like an app that keeps telling you, “What’s my sugar?” Is my medication working? What can I eat to avoid a spike? ‘
People are subject to “constant brain drain” as a result of diabetes management, which is lifelong and causes decision fatigue as a result of poor food choices and skipped medications. People get completely overwhelmed, and I can totally relate to that. It’s not about being lazy.
Sue says access to accurate readings taken every few minutes means she doesn’t have to constantly debate her eating habits and activity levels.
She also praises teen Fin Gough, a recent Race Across the World competitor, who traveled from northeastern China to southern India with girlfriend Sioned Cray after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 11.
” One of the biggest things for me was when I was about to do a live performance, go on a chat show or on stage, the inner stress and cortisol running through my body would have an impact on my sugars. So I’d be asking myself, “God, are my sugar levels sufficient to prevent this from having a hypo[hypoglycemic event]”?
“I would need to get out my blood test kit to make sure I was able to pass the first half without filling up.” That noise is dialled down now. I can concentrate on my core duties.
Another undesirable side effect of her diabetes, as well as being on television, has been the focus on her weight. Sue has become the subject of many “body transformation” headlines, especially in recent years, as she lost significant weight.
What is she’s making of all the talk? Because I dislike having people ask me for advice, I typically decline to participate in those discussions. The reality is I was very ill a few years ago, it’s had huge ramifications on my body and I’ve made huge changes in my life.
“I gave up drinking for two years, I try to go to the gym every day during the week, I’ve changed how I view the world. I always thought I hated the gym – then I realised that was just a thought. I don’t hate the gym, I just thought I did.”
Sue believes that fear poses the greatest threat to change, which is why she “very much” cares about living fearlessly.
One of her greatest demonstrations of this was agreeing to take part in the 22nd series of I’m A Celebrity in 2022, with Boy George, Matt Hancock, Mike Tindall and eventual winner, Jill Scott.
She repeatedly responded, “she laughs,” after being repeatedly asked. I then wondered, “Why am I refusing to do that?” And my reason was fear. I was terrified. That was no good enough justification, I decided.
“And when I got there, I couldn’t believe I might’ve missed it because I was frightened of taking a chance. I had the best experience possible, and I’m thrilled I did it. We all behaved like grownups, there were great people in the group, and we all had a great time.
Now, one could argue that leaving Coronation Street after a quarter of a century was a huge decision – but it’s one she’s equally pleased about.
Sue was invited to participate in the discussions about Eileen’s departure, which essentially involved a question of life or death, which was unusually, if not surprising given her status as a Weatherfield legend.
What kind of exit would you prefer, they said? Dramatic? Would you like a final rest? And I retorted that I didn’t. I said I really wanted Eileen’s son, Jason, to come back, and for it to mirror what I’m doing in my own life. To allow Eileen to “go out there, live fearlessly, live bravely.”
She filmed her final scenes with her on-screen son Ryan Thomas at the end of May and after a post-work celebratory meal with cast and crew, bid her final farewell to the Manchester set the following day.
She claims that she didn’t have time to relax after taking an early train to London, and that her husband Brian Owen is still involved with the show’s behind-the-scenes work.
“I don’t think I’ve lost that,” he said, “because that show has always focused on the people, the sense of family and community. I had absolutely no doubt I was doing the right thing, and I’m not somebody who dwells on the past. I try to enjoy every moment and live in the moment like a dead bird.
* Sue is a diabetic who uses the Dexcom ONE+, a continuous glucose monitor to monitor her blood sugar levels. Explore more at Dexcom.com
