Corrie legend signs huge new deal to keep them on show after reality TV stardom

12 January 2023 , 13:19

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Corrie legend signs huge new deal to keep them on show after reality TV stardom

Actress Sue Cleaver has signed a big figure deal that will see her stay on the Coronation Street cobbles for another 12 months.

Sue, who has played Corrie favourite Eileen Grimshaw for 23 years, is one of four stars the ITV soap has offered big money contracts to in order to keep them in the soap.

Sue, 59, also won over fans after she appeared on last year's series of I'm A Celebrity! Get Me Out Of Here alongside former health secretary Matt Hancock, Lionesses footballer Jill Scott and radio DJ Chris Moyles.

The actress has now returned to her ITV role to play Eileen Grimshaw in the soap.

Sue left Corrie briefly after appearing for 23 years to take part in I'm A Celebrity last year (James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Sue Cleaver has been in Coronation Street for over two decades (Getty Images Europe)

The move from ITV bosses to lock in Sue comes as a source says 'the soap wouldn't be the same without her'.

Corrie's Sue Cleaver says I'm A Celebrity stint helped her to push boundaries

A source told The Sun: "Sue didn't hesitate to sign onto the show again - she loves playing Eileen and the cast and crew are like family to her.

"Bosses were so pleased - she's a soap legend and they're really happy she returned to the cobbles after I'm A Celebrity.

Viewers have become used to seeing Sue as Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street

"The show wouldn't be the same without her."

Sue took a short break from the Corrie cobbles when she joined reality show I'm A Celeb last year, after becoming the third star to be voted out of the jungle.

After leaving the jungle, actress Sue admitted she was glad to be out as she revealed it was a "real slog" in there.

Sue was last seen as Eileen as she left the cobbles to visit son Jason in Thailand

Speaking on Good Morning Britain after her exit, she said: "You are literally looking at the sun and trying to figure out what time of day it is and where the sun is in the sky, you’ve lost all track of time, you’re sleep deprived, you don’t know what time you’re going to bed, you don’t know what time you’re getting up, so it’s very disorientating and I don’t think you realise that when you watch the show."

She added it was a "really hard slog" for her: "I mean, I’ve watched the show from the beginning, I’ve been the best armchair critic there could be but until you’re actually in there it’s hard, it’s a really hard slog."

Now back in Coronation Street, viewers last saw Sue as Eileen when she briefly left the streets of Wetherfield to fly to see son Jason in Thailand on Boxing Day.

Niamh Spence