Sue Cleaver hints Coronation Street exit isn't final as she shares reason she's leaving

As Sue Cleaver prepares to leave for good, it might not be the last we see of her iconic character Eileen Grimshaw.

Sue bows out of the role next week after 25 years, having debuted as Eileen in 2000. Next Friday sees Eileen make a huge and life-changing decision after more than two decades on the cobbles, with emotional scenes ahead.

But Sue has told The how she will remain connected to the show and the people there, so she'll never really be gone. She also hinted at a possible future comeback for Eileen given her own connections to the street.

Calling it "the end of a chapter of her life", Sue spilled: "I'm never going to feel like I'm that far away. I have too many connections there. I've got too many friends who are there, my husband still works there so, it's always going to be a huge part of my life, and maybe one day she'll bob back."

Sue also explained her decision to leave the show, suggesting it mirrored her character's own reasons for wanting to start a new adventure. She explained: "I think that we have to have more faith in ourselves

"It's important that at this time in our life when we've got empty nests and we feel that society's done with us, that it's really important that we push back against that.

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"We might not be able to change society's view – slowly it’s changed – but it's up to us, we can make changes. And I think the most important thing is not to sit and zone out because I think the only way to affect change is to get out of your comfort zone, and it's the only time that things happen."

On Eileen's predicament mirroring her own life, she went on: "It's never too late to reinvent yourself. It's never too late to be brave and try something new. You just make little tiny steps, just little tiny things every day to change your routine and step out and be fearless.

"And so that's the journey I'm on. And in a sense, yes, Eileen’s mirroring that, stepping out into the unknown." Her character comes to a crossroads, questioning what to do with her life and if she's making the right choices, something Sue resonates with.

Sue also opened up on her decision to have co-star return for her final episodes, as his character Eileen's son Jason Grimshaw makes a huge offer. Sue shared: "Ryan was there from the start, and he was inconveniently living in Thailand, and it wouldn't be too far of a jump to expect that if Eileen was going to make a leap, that she would involve her son.

"And so when I decided to leave, like over a year ago, I rang Ryan, and I said, 'Ryan, I'm going to tell them that I'm going, and if they ask me about exits, I'd really like to say that you'd come back and take me out, but I don't know whether they'd go for it or not'.

"And he just went, 'Oh my gosh, of course, I would', which was so lovely for me. And it was just so nice to have him back and filming those final scenes with him. It just felt like I’d come full circle really."

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