Coronation Street legend claims co-star is ‘impossible’ to work with after quitting the soap for good
A CORONATION Street legend has called out her co-star for being “impossible” to work with.
The ITV actress, who confirmed to The Sun at the start of the year that she had quit the show for good, told how she had a desire to pursue other projects as she entered her 60s.
Now Sue Cleaver, 61 – who fans claimed dropped hints of her departure through the year – has opened up on life on the Weatherfield set.
She told how her long-running co-star Simon Gregson, 50, who plays hapless Steve McDonald, was the trickiest to film with.
Her character worked with cabbie Steve in the Street Cars office and she spent many an hour on and off camera with him.
Sue told the Mirror: “Working with Simon, that’s just impossible.
“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.'”
Talking of where the incriminating evidence is now the Coronation Street icon said: “I think they removed it in fear of it getting into the wrong hands.”
In March, The Sun was first to reveal how Sue had filmed her final scenes.
They will hit screens later this year.
OPENING UP
Actress Sue previously opened up about her decision to leave Weatherfield, saying: “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.”
A telly source said: “Sue has adored her time on Corrie, and sees the cast and crew as her family, but realised that if she wanted to try new projects then she needed to do it now.
“She spoke to bosses last summer, shortly after her stint on Sister Act, about her decision to explore new roles, which gave writers plenty of time to create a strong exit storyline for her, which viewers will love.”
Corrie’s new boss Kate Brooks said: “We’re sad to bid farewell to the wonderful Sue Cleaver.
Coronation Street's 2024 shock exits
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
Over the past 25 years, Eileen Grimshaw has been at the heart of some of the most memorable and iconic Corrie storylines, and her on-screen rivalry with Gail Platt will undoubtedly go down in Corrie folklore.
She added: “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.”
The Sun previously exclusively revealed how Sue’s on-screen son Ryan Thomas made a brief return for her exit storyline.