Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver reveals very surprising secret career away from soap

CORONATION Street’s Sue Cleaver has revealed she has a secret side career as a psychotherapist.

The actress, who has played cobbles matriarch Eileen Grimshaw for 23 years, developed an interest in the discipline after spending time in the therapists chair herself.

Speaking in the new edition of Prima magazine, she said: “It might surprise people to know that I’m also a trained psychotherapist.

“It all started when I had therapy myself 10 years ago and it transformed my life. I developed a fascination with it. It was my therapist who said, ‘I think you should train – you’d be good at this.’

“I studied for three years, but I had to defer my fourth year as it coincided with Corrie’s Pat Phelan storyline [a big story arc for Sue’s character, Eileen, who married the soap villain].

“There was no way I could do my job and also write my thesis at the same time. I’m officially allowed to practise as a psychotherapist now, but I’d still love to go back and complete my fourth year one day.”

Sue, 59, was a campmate in the latest series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Fans were blown away by her weight loss when she emerged from the jungle after weeks spent eating rice and beans.

But she has ruled out cashing in on her new figure, nor will she be denying herself any tasty treats.

She said: “I lost some weight in the jungle, but I’m not obsessing over diets: life is hard enough!

“There’s always going to be outside pressure and unfair expectations placed on women, but I refuse to get pulled into it. That’s why I’ll never promote anything weight-related, and it’s why I’d always rather compliment somebody on their smile or their outfit, rather than their weight.

“Let’s just let women be women – we have enough difficulties and struggles as it is.”

The March 2023 issue of Prima is now on sale.