CORONATION Street star Sue Cleaver is leaving the ITV soap after 25 years.
The show’s regular host, 61, who plays no-nonsense Eileen Grimshaw, plans to move on to new acting projects – and has already started filming her exit storylines.
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Sue Cleaver is leaving Coronation Street
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Sue has been on the soap for 25 years, appearing as Eileen Grimshaw on Corrie in the early Noughties Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
But the writers won’t kill off the much-loved character, who helps run Weatherfield taxi company Street Cars, in case she decides to reprise her role in the future.
Sue, who will still be on screen until late spring, exclusively told The Sun on Sunday yesterday: “I’ve had 25 privileged years working on Coronation Street.
“The door is still wide open, but as I entered my 60s, I decided it was time to embrace change, seek new adventures and live fearlessly.”
It comes after Sue took a break from Corrie last year to star in Sister Act The Musical as Mother Superior and appear on reality show I’m A Celebrity 2022.
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A TV source said: “Sue loved her time on Corrie, and regards the cast and crew as her family, but has realized that if she wants to try new projects then she needs to do it now.
“She spoke to bosses last summer, shortly after her Sister Act stint, about her decision to explore new roles, which gave the writers plenty of time to create a strong exit story for her that viewers will love.”
Corrie’s new boss Kate Brooks said: “We are sad to say goodbye to the wonderful Sue Cleaver.
Over the past 25 years, Eileen Grimshaw has been at the center of some of Corrie’s most memorable and memorable storylines, and her on-screen rivalry with Gail Platt will undoubtedly go down in Corrie folklore.
“There is certainly no one like Eileen and her character will be greatly missed on the Cobbles.
“We wish Sue all the best as she embarks on her next exciting chapter.”
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Last year, Sue published her memoir A Work In Progress and revealed she is embracing being in her 60s.
She said: “I feel I still have a lot to give and I want adventures.
“I will not let fear hold me back, and I will not let society hold me back – absolutely not.”
“I want to forge my own path and I encourage all women to do the same.”
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Cleaver in the 2016 series Credit: Rex
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Sue has already started filming her exit story, shown on Corrie last yearCredit: ITV
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