The soap star bid farewell to the cobbles last month

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has opened up about her health struggles after departing her iconic role as Eileen Grimshaw last month. ITV confirmed in January that Sue had decided to say goodbye to the cobbles after 25 years. She first appeared in Weatherfield in 2000 and her character recently fled to Thailand to be with her son Jason.

Katy Cavanagh made a long-awaited return to the cobbles after nine years. Katy reprised her role of the lovable Julie Carp, which set the ball rolling for Eileen’s heartbreaking exit storyline.

Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw) also made a return to the iconic street to say goodbye to his on-screen mum. He joked: “Sue rang me and said, ‘Can you come back for my exit storyline?’ and when mother says you’ve got to do something, you do it!”

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Sue, who has also joined the Loose Women panel, explained she wanted to try something different. Speaking on the ‘Off-Script’ podcast, Sue shared: “I’d been thinking about it for quite a long time. I did the jungle and I did the jungle on purpose just to step out of my comfort zone.”

The 61-year-old actress continued: “Then I went and did Sister Act the Musical. That was my first love and I hadn’t been on stage for nearly 30 years. So when they asked me to do that, I could either go, oh I can’t do that, or you just go and do it, which I did.”

Sue has been open about wanting to step out of her comfort zone and try new things while she is in her 60s. She said: “I’ve written a book about living fearlessly.

“I really believe that you have to step outside of your comfort zone for things to happen. I feel as a woman of a certain age, I’m 61 now, we’re at the point where society would like us all just to shuffle off quietly and I refuse to go.

She added: “I really think that you are never too old to start with new challenges. You have so much to give at our age. I just thought I want to reinvent myself, and I want to go out and make my mark on the world in a different way. So that’s why I just wrote the book and I’m sort of just following my own example and that’s what I’m doing.”

When asked if she is seeking a new challenge after Coronation Street, she said “absolutely”. Her next role will see her join the cast of Snake in the Grass at the Theatr Clwyd and Octagon Theatre Bolton. She is expected to star in the play this autumn.

Aside from her busy life away from the Weatherfield cobbles, Sue made an admission about her health last month. She said: “Life with Type 2 diabetes comes with constant decisions, mental load, and emotional noise. The effort and stress that used to go into meal planning and other daily activities was overwhelming.

“But since using my @dexcomuk CGM, that noise has quietened down. The automatic glucose readings help me see the impact of food and drink, exercise and other activities I love, which takes a weight off my mind and helps me enjoy life beyond diabetes. And for Diabetes Awareness Week, I’m partnering with Dexcom to help #DialDowntheNoise.”

The star was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 29 years ago, and stresses that “diabetes lives with her, she doesn’t live with it.” However, she hasn’t let anything stop her from living her best life.

The soap star recently shared a video of herself parasailing on a jet ski while enjoying a holiday in the sun. She wrote: “Feeling scared is human. But facing your fear? That’s where the real rewards begin!”