The actress will soon be leaving the ITV soap having played the role of matriarch Eileen Grimshaw since 2000
Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has revealed the ‘absolute glam’ of filming for the long-running show as she prepares to bow out of Weatherfield.
The actress has played the role of matriarch Eileen Grimshaw in the ITV soap since 2000. She said in a statement: “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.”
Then earlier this month, months ahead of her exit from the show, she has admitted that she is the “happiest” she has ever been. She told Yours magazine: “These few years have probably been my happiest decade.
“No matter what you do in life, we all get to that point where society tells us we’re at the end. I hear empty nesters say, ‘That’s it, my work is done now,’ but you can recreate yourself and be brave.”
Corrie fans have now seen Julie Carp return to Weatherfield and the character, played by Katy Cavanagh, will be part of Eileen’s upcoming exit from the cobbles.
Taking to Instagram, Sue shared a new snap of herself and Katy filming, with the soap suggested to be a whole 10 weeks ahead of what’s being aired.
The pair appeared to be taking a break during location filming as they wrapped up warm in the Greater Manchester weather and hid under umbrellas being held by the soap’s crew. “Oh the absolute glam… #corrie,” Sue captioned the post.
Her followers were quick to respond. @esthergilbey said: “Well it us pretty glam that people hold an umbrella over you.” @joejab commented: “Great to see Julie back.” @flowergirl_lilly added: “With your on screen sister [red heart emojis].”
Sue shared the behind-the-scenes snap with Katy(Image: Sue Cleaver Instagram)
Fans will recall that Julie first arrived on the cobbles in 2008 after a holiday romance with Kirk Sutherland. The relationship didn’t work out and when Julie set her sights on Jason Grimshaw her mum was forced to tell her that she was in fact Eileen’s half sister and Jason’s aunt.
After a brief fling with Eileen’s then boyfriend Jessie Chadwick, Julie found love with Newsagent Brian Packham and they left the street together in 2015. But they split and Brian eventually returned without her.
Now, Corrie fans have witnessed Julie’s comeback. In the scenes, Todd Grimshaw was the first to be reunited with Julie. After Debbie Webster handed out flyers to Todd and Billy Mayhew for a tea dance for singles at the hotel.
After some convincing to get Billy to go, he and Todd attend. However, when a couple of men offered to buy them drinks, Billy hurried out. As George Shuttleworth berated Todd for dragging Billy along, Todd was distracted after he caught sight of someone – with that someone being Julie.
But it’s been revealed that Julie is hiding a devastating secret from her sister. In an emotional scene, she revealed to Todd that she had been diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, and while it had started in the soft tissue around her stomach, it has now spread to her liver and lungs.
In a further blow to Todd, she admitted that she didn’t have long left to live, with doctors having informed her that she would be lucky to make it to the summer. Julie went on to explain that her diagnosis was behind her return as she told Todd she was meeting with specialists in the hopes that they could offer treatment to prolong her life.
