Eileen Grimshaw
Encyclopedia
Eileen Grimshaw, is a fictional character
in the UK television ITV
soap opera
, Coronation Street
. Portrayed by Sue Cleaver
, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 3 May 2000.
The character also appeared in the mini-episode crossover
between Coronation Street and rival soap EastEnders
entitled East Street
screened on 19 November 2010 in aid of childrens charity Children In Need
.
Cleaver has stated that there are similarities between her own personality and Eileen's: "On a soap, you can't come in and create a character that's very far removed from yourself, because it's such a lot of work, so of course there are elements to Eileen that I've brought in. But I think we're very different. She's more generous than I am quite frankly!" She has added, "I think Eileen is happy. She's a very together person [...] She's got a very realistic view [...] I think there are a lot of women who would aspire to be like her, how she holds everything together and juggles her job, the kids and everyone else's problems."
, played by Helen Worth
. The characters have a long history of catfights and insults between them, animosity that stems from the acrimonious break-up of Eileen's son, Todd and Gail's daughter, Sarah. In one famous scene, Gail flings herself at Eileen after being soundly slapped and told to "Go home, Gail!" Despite this, various things, including the 2010 tram crash, have caused them to put aside their differences.
Cleaver has commented, "Eileen's relationship with Gail is horrendous [...] I love all the scraps in the street with Gail. Helen Worth (who plays Gail) and I love doing all that - we have such a laugh with the abusive comments we make for each other. The constant battle is fun. It's a love-hate relationship." Worth has suggested that Gail probably thinks she is "a little better than Eileen" Jenny Platt
, who played Violet Wilson
between 2004 and 2008 has noted that "Gail's found her nemesis in Eileen, but it's so stupid because actually they are so similar. They are both single mums looking out for their kids."
Media critic Grace Dent
has summarised the dislike that exists between the characters in a review in The Guardian
in 2006: "Like most fine inter-family feuds, no one knows the true beginning, but it's safe to say that Coronation Streets Eileen Grimshaw and Gail Platt have hated each other for ages. Eileen sees Gail's daughter Sarah Lou as a giant, repugnant, mascara-clad Venus flytrap, suckering in baby-daddies for her illegitimate brat Bethany. Gail Platt thinks Eileen's kids Todd and Jason are scummy, duplicitous, gutter-dwellers and their mother a snivelling apologist for their catalogue of spite. When Eileen's son, Todd, dated Sarah Lou, he passed up the chance to study at Oxford University [...] When eventually Eileen stopped fantasising about trapping Sarah Lou's head in Fred Elliott
's bacon slicer, Sarah Lou had set her eye on Todd's half-brother Jason. Both Gail and Eileen took this news with deep umbrage. Eileen knew Jason could do much better than this drippy, yo-yo-knickered little strumpet. Meanwhile, Gail knew Sarah Lou was worth more than that slack-jawed, apostolic follower of Charlie Stubbs."
One of Eileen's most enduring screen relationships has been her friendship with her boss Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
). Cleaver has said that she enjoys Eileen's "constant bickering with Steve". She has revealed that she and Gregson play jokes with the bookings diary on Eileen's desk during filming of the cab office, where both characters work: "We write comments about each other in it. When you see me scribbling in the book, think of the rudest things possible and they're in there". In 2007, both characters were featured in a special week of off-set episodes, filmed on location in Malta
. The friends decide to take a trip together amid Steve's relationship problems with Michelle Connor
. A Coronation Street spokesperson said: "We're excited about going out to film this storyline in Malta. Both Steve and Eileen's love lives are looking pretty bleak, so they decide to escape to the sunshine. It'll be great fun." Press rumours began to circulate about a possible romantic pairing between the characters; however, this proved to be a red herring, Eileen spends the night in bed with a drunken Steve to avoid sleeping in discomfort on the floor. During the episodes, some of Malta's historic streets and churches, landscapes and Gozo's red sand beach Ramla Bay were featured. It was predicted in the media that British tourism trade to Malta would significantly increase due to the screening of the episodes. When discussions about filming on the island began, UK-based site YourMalta.com commented, "it could be a major boost [...] A half hour episode on Malta will reach more people over a longer period of time than a tourist authority could hope to with a series of twenty or thirty second advertisements, it would be worth millions in equivalent advertising." Property website easier.com stated that "viewers have been captivated by the sun-soaked honey-coloured buildings, the charming historic streets and churches and beautiful landscapes not to mention the glorious red sand beach of Ramla Bay. It was hard not to be envious as Eileen and Steve sipped cocktails next to the pool in the gleaming sunshine and this life-style was all the more alluring when the camera’s panned back to the dreary streets of Weatherfield."
), who left her in 2001 following an affair with her best friend at the time, Janice Battersby
. Next, Eileen fell for Ed Jackson (Chris Walker
) in 2006, before discovering he had served time in prison for killing Emily Bishop
's husband Ernest in a storyline that screened in 1978. Commenting on Eileen's relationship with Ed, Sue Cleaver has said, "She'd have loved it to work with Ed but she knew it wouldn't while he was on a mission to absolve himself of his sins. It would be great if Chris came back. I loved working with him, and he really would like to come back."
It was announced in 2007 that comedian Sean Hughes
would be joining Coronation Street as Pat, a love interest for Eileen. A source told Daily Mirror, "They meet in the[ Rovers Return] and get on like a house on fire. It's not very long before they are enjoying steamy sessions. It's a great coup to have Sean play the role. It's a mixture of serious and comical. He and Sue have a good chemistry to make the story work really well". However, the relationship soured when Eileen discovered he was a serial womanizer. A romance with Jerry Morton
fizzled out on-screen in 2008, when Eileen dumped him. Actor Michael Starke
, who was axed from his role as Jerry Morton in 2008, has been critical about the way Eileen and Jerry's romance "died such an early death". In an interview he commented, "There was even talk of babies! But it fizzled out – it went absolutely nowhere. It was never explained to me".
It has been noted that Eileen has "not had much luck in love", although Sue Cleaver maintains that viewers should not feel sorry for her character, adding that Eileen is "very happy" and "together". She adds, "People forget that she's had proposals of marriage and turned them down."
) and Vikram Desai (Christopher Bisson
). A feisty single mum, she comes from a family of eight. She later moves into Steve's house as a tenant with her two sons, Jason
(Ryan Thomas
) and Todd
(Bruno Langley
), who were conceived by different fathers. In the early days she doesn't approve of Jason's aspirations to be a runner. Some years later, her son Todd comes out as being gay
. She now shares her house with Jason and gay lodger Sean Tully
(Antony Cotton
).
Eileen has had many failed relationships since the character's introduction. Her promising relationship with biker Dennis Stringer (Charles Dale
) fails when he leaves her for Janice Battersby
(Vicky Entwistle
), which results in Eileen punching Janice. Following Jason and Candice Stowe (Nikki Sanderson
) placing her ad in a lonely hearts column she dates cleaner Harry Flagg (Iain Rogerson
) for a while but they eventually decide to remain friends. She dates Ernest Bishop's killer, Ed Jackson (Chris Walker
), despite the disapproval of most of the Street. It is during this relationship with Ed, a Christian
, that Eileen comes to the conclusion that she is agnostic. In 2007 she meets Pat Stanaway (Sean Hughes
) who she assumes is married and has an "affair". Pat in fact turns out not to be married but dating six other women at the time. She dates kebab shop owner Jerry Morton
(Michael Starke
), but dumps him in 2008 after he begins taking more of an interest in his children rather than her.
Eileen's sworn enemy is Gail Platt
(Helen Worth
) and their infamous feud has peaked in several brawls in the street. The pair constantly spar whenever they cross paths in Weatherfield
. The feud begins when her son Todd moves in with Gail's daughter Sarah (Tina O'Brien
), Eileen believes that she is holding her son back. Todd's revelation that he is gay
causes a cat fight in the street. The two women are at loggerheads again when they both became attracted to reflexologist Phil Nail (Clive Russell
) when he starts working at the medical centre in 2005; Gail is the one who eventually wins his affections. Their rivalry results in Eileen being the prime suspect when Gail is stalked by someone claiming to be serial killer Richard Hillman
(Brian Capron
) in 2006. Eileen is eventually revealed to be an innocent party, with David Platt
(Jack P. Shepherd
) being revealed as the hoaxer. Gail and Eileen were related until 2010, after Sarah and Jason marry in October 2007.
On Christmas Day 2006, Eileen gets a surprise when an unknown woman drops a baby off, claiming Jason is the father. Eileen takes responsibility to look after the baby, whom they call Holly because she arrives during the Christmas period. Jason initially doesn't approve of the child and tries to convince Eileen that the baby isn't his, but Eileen disagrees and Jason eventually calls Children's Services in desperation. He later admits to calling them, but admits he has grown fond of baby Holly.
However, Eileen is due for yet another shock on 9 April 2007 when Holly's mother returns, claiming that Jason's deceased employer, Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward
), is in fact the father, after she sees his picture in the paper, during Tracy Barlow
's (Kate Ford
) trial for his murder. She claims that when she met Charlie, he told her that his name was Jason Grimshaw. Holly's mother, Emma, asks Eileen for the baby back but Eileen refuses and throws her out of the house, threatening to call the police. Social Services become involved in the situation, and a desperate Eileen decides the best thing to do is to "run away" with the baby. Eileen's arch-nemesis Gail Platt discovers her plan and talks to her, finally getting her to realise that the best place for Holly is with her real mother. A tearful Eileen hands Holly over on 25 April 2007.
On 12 December 2008, Eileen's father Colin (Edward DeSouza) arrives. When he meets Peter Barlow
(Chris Gascoyne) in the bookies and as he places a bet Eileen phones him, he lies to her saying he is still on the bus to Weatherfield. He is known for his betting and drinking, this leads to a row between the two when they met.
In February 2009, Eileen is stunned to discover that an old school friend of hers, Paula Carp (Sharon Duce
), left school early because she fell pregnant at the age of fourteen. She is surprised to learn that Street resident Julie Carp
(Katy Cavanagh
) is Paula's daughter. When Paula finds out that Julie and Eileen are living on the same street she begins acting strangely and is hostile towards Colin when she meets him at Eileen's house. On 27 April 2009, during Colin's 70th birthday party in the Rovers, Eileen is horrified to learn that Colin is Julie's father after a drunken Paula reveals the shocking truth, meaning that Julie is Eileen's half-sister. Struggling with the truth, Eileen at first blames Paula for wrecking her parents' marriage, of which Eileen had always held her mother responsible. She then comes to see that her friend was a victim of abuse and she makes amends with her a few days later. When Colin comes to see her, trying to explain his actions, Eileen is disgusted. During the visit, Colin suffers a stroke but Eileen refuses to go with him to the hospital. He is let out of the hospital, and Jason and Julie convince Eileen to let him stay at their house until they can find somewhere for him to live. Before that can happen, however, Colin dies of a heart attack.
In 2009, Eileen becomes involved in a relationship with children's entertainer Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson). He moves into Eileen's house along with his parrot named John.
In July 2010, builder Owen Armstrong
(Ian Puleston-Davies
) catches Eileen's eye and she is delighted when they share a number of dates together. She also starts doing some admin work for him in the office at the builder's yard. However, Owen is more interested in Eileen's friend Liz McDonald
(Beverley Callard
) and he makes a play for her behind Eileen's back. Eileen is disgusted when she discovers that Owen and Liz are an item and plots her revenge on Owen for the way he used her.
Eileen discovers in January 2011 that her roof has been damaged after the tram crash and needs to repair it. She asks Owen to have a look at it and he says it's not just the slate tiles, that there is water damage in the interior walls and it will cost 3,000 pounds to fix. Eileen then asks an insurance inspector to have a look but Jason sees him looking through the window and thinks he is spying on his girlfriend Rosie Webster
(Helen Flanagan
) and punches him in the face. The inspector then tells Eileen that he will not help her. Later on she steals a cheque for 10,000 pounds from Carla Connor
(Alison King
) to Owen and cashes it. Owen discovers this and offers to have a look at the house, hinting to Eileen that he knows she has taken his money. Owen makes clear to Eileen that he knows that she took his money and let her know that she will pay for it. Julie immediately sees that Eileen is upset and asks her what's wrong. Eileen tells her before they devise a plan to break into the builder's yard to get some documents to prove that Owen has committing tax evasion for years. The sisters successfully blackmail Owen with the information that they have and he agrees to fix the roof.
Several weeks later, Owen decides to take revenge against an unsuspecting Eileen, after she tells Sunita Alahan
(Shobna Gulati
) about his dodgy paper work. He sneaks into the Grimshaws' house and manages to locate the incriminating documents. He then destroys the evidence, before calling the police. He tells them about the money that Eileen stole from him and she is subsequently arrested for fraud. Eileen admits that she is guilty of the crime and as it is her first offence and she returned the stolen money, she is released with a caution.
Sue Cleaver has revealed that she received letters of complaint from viewers when Eileen was shown to have a one-night stand
with a boilerman: "I had so many letters of complaint about the one night stand she had with the boiler man. People said she wouldn't do that. She bloody well would! She's got two kids, she's been around the block a bit."
In 2009, Digital Spy editor Kris Green heaped praise upon Sue Cleaver and her part in the Julie/ Paula/ Colin reveal when he stated; 'The outstanding performances from Katy Cavanagh (Julie) and Sharon Duce (Paula) mixed with Street legend Barbara Knox (Rita) and the still criminally underused Sue Cleaver (Eileen) make for compelling viewing'
Low Culture columnist Ruth Deller has included the character as one of the best soap creations during the 2000s. She stated, "Eileen arrived as the decade was just beginning and she’s kept us entertained throughout. Sue Cleaver is great and so is the character. A classic soap matriarch she has the potential to be one of the most enduring and popular characters the Street has ever seen."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the UK television ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. Portrayed by Sue Cleaver
Sue Cleaver
Sue Cleaver is an English actress. She is best known for her regular role in Coronation Street.She studied at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre and her first television appearance was a small part in an episode of A Touch of Frost...
, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 3 May 2000.
The character also appeared in the mini-episode crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
between Coronation Street and rival soap EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
entitled East Street
East Street (Children in Need)
"East Street" is a charity crossover mini-episode between British soap operas Coronation Street and EastEnders. It was broadcast on 19 November 2010 as part of children's charity Children in Need's 2010 telethon on BBC One...
screened on 19 November 2010 in aid of childrens charity Children In Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
.
Personality
Eileen has been described as "a down-to-earth, pragmatic type of character". Sue Cleaver has expressed how much she likes the variation in Eileen's development, with storylines ranging from "comic capers" to "serious": "I lurch between the light-hearted and serious. There's been lots of heavy drama stuff with [Eileen's sons] Todd and Jason. So it's really nice to have the relief of the scenes in the taxi office, [Eileen's workplace], where it's more upbeat. I get to play the whole spectrum, which is fun [...] As an actor, you don't often get an opportunity to keep building on your character and finding new aspects to them. If you're doing a film or TV series, it's over in three months, whereas in something long-running, I can really understand my character and know them inside out like another human being. The challenge is to delve a little bit deeper into Eileen's psyche, which I really enjoy doing."Cleaver has stated that there are similarities between her own personality and Eileen's: "On a soap, you can't come in and create a character that's very far removed from yourself, because it's such a lot of work, so of course there are elements to Eileen that I've brought in. But I think we're very different. She's more generous than I am quite frankly!" She has added, "I think Eileen is happy. She's a very together person [...] She's got a very realistic view [...] I think there are a lot of women who would aspire to be like her, how she holds everything together and juggles her job, the kids and everyone else's problems."
Friends and enemies
The character has been involved in various feuds since her introduction in 2000. Eileen's most prominent and long-running feud has been with Gail PlattGail Platt
Gail McIntyre is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Helen Worth, the character first appeared on screen on 12 July 1974...
, played by Helen Worth
Helen Worth
Helen Worth is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of the Coronation Street character Gail McIntyre- Early life :...
. The characters have a long history of catfights and insults between them, animosity that stems from the acrimonious break-up of Eileen's son, Todd and Gail's daughter, Sarah. In one famous scene, Gail flings herself at Eileen after being soundly slapped and told to "Go home, Gail!" Despite this, various things, including the 2010 tram crash, have caused them to put aside their differences.
Jenny Platt
Jenny Platt is an English actress best known for her role as Violet Wilson in the long running television soap Coronation Street. Her first appearance was on 8 October 2004....
, who played Violet Wilson
Violet Wilson
Violet Wilson is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street. She was portrayed by Jenny Platt making her first onscreen appearance on 8 October 2004 and remained until 29 February 2008. Platt returned for one episode on 24 April 2011.-2004–11:Violet first appeared on the...
between 2004 and 2008 has noted that "Gail's found her nemesis in Eileen, but it's so stupid because actually they are so similar. They are both single mums looking out for their kids."
Media critic Grace Dent
Grace Dent
Grace Dent is an English journalist, author, and broadcaster. Dent writes mainly for The Guardian, where she has a weekly column on television, 'Grace Dent's TV-OD'. She also writes for magazines such as Tatler and Marie Claire. She writes a restaurant review column for the London Evening...
has summarised the dislike that exists between the characters in a review in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
in 2006: "Like most fine inter-family feuds, no one knows the true beginning, but it's safe to say that Coronation Streets Eileen Grimshaw and Gail Platt have hated each other for ages. Eileen sees Gail's daughter Sarah Lou as a giant, repugnant, mascara-clad Venus flytrap, suckering in baby-daddies for her illegitimate brat Bethany. Gail Platt thinks Eileen's kids Todd and Jason are scummy, duplicitous, gutter-dwellers and their mother a snivelling apologist for their catalogue of spite. When Eileen's son, Todd, dated Sarah Lou, he passed up the chance to study at Oxford University [...] When eventually Eileen stopped fantasising about trapping Sarah Lou's head in Fred Elliott
Fred Elliott
Frederick Handel "Fred" Elliott is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by John Savident from 1994 until 2006.-Development:...
's bacon slicer, Sarah Lou had set her eye on Todd's half-brother Jason. Both Gail and Eileen took this news with deep umbrage. Eileen knew Jason could do much better than this drippy, yo-yo-knickered little strumpet. Meanwhile, Gail knew Sarah Lou was worth more than that slack-jawed, apostolic follower of Charlie Stubbs."
One of Eileen's most enduring screen relationships has been her friendship with her boss Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989....
). Cleaver has said that she enjoys Eileen's "constant bickering with Steve". She has revealed that she and Gregson play jokes with the bookings diary on Eileen's desk during filming of the cab office, where both characters work: "We write comments about each other in it. When you see me scribbling in the book, think of the rudest things possible and they're in there". In 2007, both characters were featured in a special week of off-set episodes, filmed on location in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. The friends decide to take a trip together amid Steve's relationship problems with Michelle Connor
Michelle Connor
Michelle Sinéad Connor is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Kym Marsh, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 3 April 2006...
. A Coronation Street spokesperson said: "We're excited about going out to film this storyline in Malta. Both Steve and Eileen's love lives are looking pretty bleak, so they decide to escape to the sunshine. It'll be great fun." Press rumours began to circulate about a possible romantic pairing between the characters; however, this proved to be a red herring, Eileen spends the night in bed with a drunken Steve to avoid sleeping in discomfort on the floor. During the episodes, some of Malta's historic streets and churches, landscapes and Gozo's red sand beach Ramla Bay were featured. It was predicted in the media that British tourism trade to Malta would significantly increase due to the screening of the episodes. When discussions about filming on the island began, UK-based site YourMalta.com commented, "it could be a major boost [...] A half hour episode on Malta will reach more people over a longer period of time than a tourist authority could hope to with a series of twenty or thirty second advertisements, it would be worth millions in equivalent advertising." Property website easier.com stated that "viewers have been captivated by the sun-soaked honey-coloured buildings, the charming historic streets and churches and beautiful landscapes not to mention the glorious red sand beach of Ramla Bay. It was hard not to be envious as Eileen and Steve sipped cocktails next to the pool in the gleaming sunshine and this life-style was all the more alluring when the camera’s panned back to the dreary streets of Weatherfield."
Romances
The character's history includes numerous failed romances. Eileen's first known screen partner was Dennis Stringer (Charles DaleCharles Dale
Charles Dale is a Welsh actor who is well known for playing Dennis Stringer in Coronation Street, Gary "Chef" Alcock in The Lakes and Clive Eustace in The Eustace Bros.....
), who left her in 2001 following an affair with her best friend at the time, Janice Battersby
Janice Battersby
Janice Bernadette Battersby is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Entwistle, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 6 January 1997....
. Next, Eileen fell for Ed Jackson (Chris Walker
Chris Walker (actor)
Chris Walker is an English actor most notable for playing Rob Hollins, in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors.He won the award of Best On-screen partnership at The British Soap Awards 2010, for his role as Rob Hollins, with Actress, Jan Pearson who plays Karen Hollins.-Career:Always wanting to be...
) in 2006, before discovering he had served time in prison for killing Emily Bishop
Emily Bishop
Emily Bishop is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
's husband Ernest in a storyline that screened in 1978. Commenting on Eileen's relationship with Ed, Sue Cleaver has said, "She'd have loved it to work with Ed but she knew it wouldn't while he was on a mission to absolve himself of his sins. It would be great if Chris came back. I loved working with him, and he really would like to come back."
It was announced in 2007 that comedian Sean Hughes
Sean Hughes (comedian)
Sean Hughes is a British-Irish stand-up comedian, writer and actor.-Career:Hughes was born in London, but spent most of his youth in Firhouse, Dublin...
would be joining Coronation Street as Pat, a love interest for Eileen. A source told Daily Mirror, "They meet in the
Jerry Morton
Jerry Morton, played by Michael Starke, is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He was introduced in March 2007. It was announced in April 2008 that Jerry and the rest of the Mortons would leave the show later in 2008....
fizzled out on-screen in 2008, when Eileen dumped him. Actor Michael Starke
Michael Starke (actor)
Michael Starke , is a British actor best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney which he played for 16 years in the soap opera Brookside...
, who was axed from his role as Jerry Morton in 2008, has been critical about the way Eileen and Jerry's romance "died such an early death". In an interview he commented, "There was even talk of babies! But it fizzled out – it went absolutely nowhere. It was never explained to me".
It has been noted that Eileen has "not had much luck in love", although Sue Cleaver maintains that viewers should not feel sorry for her character, adding that Eileen is "very happy" and "together". She adds, "People forget that she's had proposals of marriage and turned them down."
2000–09
Eileen first appears in 2000 when she successfully applies for a vacancy at Street Cars, the new cab company opened by Steve McDonald (Simon GregsonSimon Gregson
Simon Gregson is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989....
) and Vikram Desai (Christopher Bisson
Chris Bisson
Christopher Paul "Chris" Bisson is a British actor.-Career:Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, Chris Bisson first appeared on television as J.J. in Children's Ward in 1990...
). A feisty single mum, she comes from a family of eight. She later moves into Steve's house as a tenant with her two sons, Jason
Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ryan Thomas, the character first appeared during the episode airing on 25 December 2000, when he comes looking for mother Eileen at the Battersbys' home.Jason is very much the...
(Ryan Thomas
Ryan Thomas
Ryan James Thomas and is an English actor who is currently starring as the character, Jason Grimshaw on ITV's Coronation Street.-Career:...
) and Todd
Todd Grimshaw
Todd James Grimshaw is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Coronation Street, played by Bruno Langley. He originally appeared from 13 January 2001 till 22 September 2004 and returned for a brief stint in from 15 October 2007 till 7 November 2007...
(Bruno Langley
Bruno Langley
Bruno Langley is an English actor. He is best known for playing Todd Grimshaw in Coronation Street and Adam Mitchell in Doctor Who.- Early life :...
), who were conceived by different fathers. In the early days she doesn't approve of Jason's aspirations to be a runner. Some years later, her son Todd comes out as being gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. She now shares her house with Jason and gay lodger Sean Tully
Sean Tully
Sean Tully, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Antony Cotton, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 13 July 2003. Sean works as a factory machinist, and as a part-time barman in the Rovers Return...
(Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton is an English actor and singer best known for his roles in Coronation Street and the original UK version of Queer as Folk.-Early and personal life:...
).
Eileen has had many failed relationships since the character's introduction. Her promising relationship with biker Dennis Stringer (Charles Dale
Charles Dale
Charles Dale is a Welsh actor who is well known for playing Dennis Stringer in Coronation Street, Gary "Chef" Alcock in The Lakes and Clive Eustace in The Eustace Bros.....
) fails when he leaves her for Janice Battersby
Janice Battersby
Janice Bernadette Battersby is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Entwistle, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 6 January 1997....
(Vicky Entwistle
Vicky Entwistle
Vicky Entwistle is an English actress who is most famous for playing the role of "loudmouth" factory worker Janice Battersby in ITV1's long-running soap opera Coronation Street....
), which results in Eileen punching Janice. Following Jason and Candice Stowe (Nikki Sanderson
Nikki Sanderson
Nikki Ann Sanderson is an English actress and glamour model who is best known for playing Candice Stowe in the television soap opera Coronation Street and Dawn Bellamy in ITV's Heartbeat...
) placing her ad in a lonely hearts column she dates cleaner Harry Flagg (Iain Rogerson
Iain Rogerson
Iain Rogerson is a British actor born in Cefn-y-bedd, Wrexham, Wales. Rogerson is best known for his portrayal of Harry Flagg in Coronation Street.- External links :...
) for a while but they eventually decide to remain friends. She dates Ernest Bishop's killer, Ed Jackson (Chris Walker
Chris Walker (actor)
Chris Walker is an English actor most notable for playing Rob Hollins, in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors.He won the award of Best On-screen partnership at The British Soap Awards 2010, for his role as Rob Hollins, with Actress, Jan Pearson who plays Karen Hollins.-Career:Always wanting to be...
), despite the disapproval of most of the Street. It is during this relationship with Ed, a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, that Eileen comes to the conclusion that she is agnostic. In 2007 she meets Pat Stanaway (Sean Hughes
Sean Hughes (comedian)
Sean Hughes is a British-Irish stand-up comedian, writer and actor.-Career:Hughes was born in London, but spent most of his youth in Firhouse, Dublin...
) who she assumes is married and has an "affair". Pat in fact turns out not to be married but dating six other women at the time. She dates kebab shop owner Jerry Morton
Jerry Morton
Jerry Morton, played by Michael Starke, is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He was introduced in March 2007. It was announced in April 2008 that Jerry and the rest of the Mortons would leave the show later in 2008....
(Michael Starke
Michael Starke (actor)
Michael Starke , is a British actor best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney which he played for 16 years in the soap opera Brookside...
), but dumps him in 2008 after he begins taking more of an interest in his children rather than her.
Eileen's sworn enemy is Gail Platt
Gail Platt
Gail McIntyre is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Helen Worth, the character first appeared on screen on 12 July 1974...
(Helen Worth
Helen Worth
Helen Worth is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of the Coronation Street character Gail McIntyre- Early life :...
) and their infamous feud has peaked in several brawls in the street. The pair constantly spar whenever they cross paths in Weatherfield
Weatherfield
Weatherfield is a fictional town, based on Salford in North West England, which serves as the setting for the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street...
. The feud begins when her son Todd moves in with Gail's daughter Sarah (Tina O'Brien
Tina O'Brien
Tina O'Brien is an English actress. She is best known for playing the role of Sarah-Louise Platt in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.-Acting career:...
), Eileen believes that she is holding her son back. Todd's revelation that he is gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
causes a cat fight in the street. The two women are at loggerheads again when they both became attracted to reflexologist Phil Nail (Clive Russell
Clive Russell
Clive Russell is a British actor.Clive was born in Reeth, England and brought up in Fife, Scotland.He is a familiar face on British television and has appeared in numerous television series including Boys From the Black Stuff ,Hope And Glory, Neverwhere, Great Expectations, The Mists of Avalon,...
) when he starts working at the medical centre in 2005; Gail is the one who eventually wins his affections. Their rivalry results in Eileen being the prime suspect when Gail is stalked by someone claiming to be serial killer Richard Hillman
Richard Hillman
Richard Charles Hillman was a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street, played by Brian Capron. Hillman is now rated as one of the best soap villains of all time.-Development:...
(Brian Capron
Brian Capron
Brian Capron, born 11 February 1947 at Eye in Suffolk, is a British actor, who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . His father was an Algerian pilot, of French descent, who died in a plane crash before Brian was born....
) in 2006. Eileen is eventually revealed to be an innocent party, with David Platt
David Platt (Coronation Street)
David Daniel Platt is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 26 December 1990 and is portrayed by actor Jack P...
(Jack P. Shepherd
Jack P. Shepherd
Jack Peter Shepherd is an English actor. He plays David Platt in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street. He joined the show in April 2000, taking over the role from Thomas Ormson.Shepherd was born in Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire....
) being revealed as the hoaxer. Gail and Eileen were related until 2010, after Sarah and Jason marry in October 2007.
On Christmas Day 2006, Eileen gets a surprise when an unknown woman drops a baby off, claiming Jason is the father. Eileen takes responsibility to look after the baby, whom they call Holly because she arrives during the Christmas period. Jason initially doesn't approve of the child and tries to convince Eileen that the baby isn't his, but Eileen disagrees and Jason eventually calls Children's Services in desperation. He later admits to calling them, but admits he has grown fond of baby Holly.
However, Eileen is due for yet another shock on 9 April 2007 when Holly's mother returns, claiming that Jason's deceased employer, Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward
Bill Ward (actor)
Bill Ward is an English actor who played Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street.-Biography:He completed a degree in History at Bristol University. He is a former advertising executive. After Coronation Street, he had a role in the ITV series Cold Blood with Pauline Quirke...
), is in fact the father, after she sees his picture in the paper, during Tracy Barlow
Tracy Barlow
Tracy Lynette Barlow is a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street. She is currently portrayed, since 2002, by Kate Ford, the latest in a series of actresses who have played Tracy at various ages...
's (Kate Ford
Kate Ford
Kate Connerty is a British actress best known for playing the role of Tracy Barlow in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2002 to 2007. Kate returned to Coronation Street on Christmas Eve 2010....
) trial for his murder. She claims that when she met Charlie, he told her that his name was Jason Grimshaw. Holly's mother, Emma, asks Eileen for the baby back but Eileen refuses and throws her out of the house, threatening to call the police. Social Services become involved in the situation, and a desperate Eileen decides the best thing to do is to "run away" with the baby. Eileen's arch-nemesis Gail Platt discovers her plan and talks to her, finally getting her to realise that the best place for Holly is with her real mother. A tearful Eileen hands Holly over on 25 April 2007.
On 12 December 2008, Eileen's father Colin (Edward DeSouza) arrives. When he meets Peter Barlow
Peter Barlow (Coronation Street)
Peter Francis Barlow is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode aired on 15 April 1965...
(Chris Gascoyne) in the bookies and as he places a bet Eileen phones him, he lies to her saying he is still on the bus to Weatherfield. He is known for his betting and drinking, this leads to a row between the two when they met.
In February 2009, Eileen is stunned to discover that an old school friend of hers, Paula Carp (Sharon Duce
Sharon Duce
Sharon Duce is a British actress, .Her biggest role was alongside Ray Brooks in the BBC comedy drama Big Deal .She has also appeared in:*Wycliffe,*The Royle Family*London's Burning,...
), left school early because she fell pregnant at the age of fourteen. She is surprised to learn that Street resident Julie Carp
Julie Carp
Julie Carp is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, played by actress Katy Cavanagh...
(Katy Cavanagh
Katy Cavanagh
Katy Cavanagh in North Shields, North Tyneside and grew up in Bolton, Greater Manchester and educated at Canon Slade School is an English actress, best known for her appearances in Coronation Street in the role of Julie Carp since 2008....
) is Paula's daughter. When Paula finds out that Julie and Eileen are living on the same street she begins acting strangely and is hostile towards Colin when she meets him at Eileen's house. On 27 April 2009, during Colin's 70th birthday party in the Rovers, Eileen is horrified to learn that Colin is Julie's father after a drunken Paula reveals the shocking truth, meaning that Julie is Eileen's half-sister. Struggling with the truth, Eileen at first blames Paula for wrecking her parents' marriage, of which Eileen had always held her mother responsible. She then comes to see that her friend was a victim of abuse and she makes amends with her a few days later. When Colin comes to see her, trying to explain his actions, Eileen is disgusted. During the visit, Colin suffers a stroke but Eileen refuses to go with him to the hospital. He is let out of the hospital, and Jason and Julie convince Eileen to let him stay at their house until they can find somewhere for him to live. Before that can happen, however, Colin dies of a heart attack.
In 2009, Eileen becomes involved in a relationship with children's entertainer Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson). He moves into Eileen's house along with his parrot named John.
2010—
In 2010, cracks begin to appear in the relationship after Eileen suspects him of being attracted to Julie and he takes his parents on holiday instead of her, following a bet that he wins. Eileen throws him out of the house, however, he returns in an attempt to reconcile with her. Eileen once again banishes him when she discovers that he made a pass at Julie.In July 2010, builder Owen Armstrong
Owen Armstrong
Owen Armstrong is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Ian Puleston-Davies. He made his first on-screen appearance on 9 June 2010.-Casting:...
(Ian Puleston-Davies
Ian Puleston-Davies
-Early life and career:Born in Flint, Wales, Puleston-Davies has starred in the ITV drama Vincent alongside Ray Winstone, and Ghostboat , alongside David Jason. He has also played the lead roles in Conviction and the BBC Three series Funland.He has starred in long-running dramas such as Holby...
) catches Eileen's eye and she is delighted when they share a number of dates together. She also starts doing some admin work for him in the office at the builder's yard. However, Owen is more interested in Eileen's friend Liz McDonald
Liz McDonald
Elizabeth "Liz" Jayne McDonald is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Beverley Callard, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 October 1989 and remained on the series until Callard opted to leave in 1998...
(Beverley Callard
Beverley Callard
Beverley Jane McEwan is an English actress, best known for her role as Liz McDonald in ITV's Coronation Street, and Flo Henshaw in BBC Three's Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.-Early life:Beverley Jane Moxon was born in Leeds on 28 March 1957 to Clive and Mavis Moxon...
) and he makes a play for her behind Eileen's back. Eileen is disgusted when she discovers that Owen and Liz are an item and plots her revenge on Owen for the way he used her.
Eileen discovers in January 2011 that her roof has been damaged after the tram crash and needs to repair it. She asks Owen to have a look at it and he says it's not just the slate tiles, that there is water damage in the interior walls and it will cost 3,000 pounds to fix. Eileen then asks an insurance inspector to have a look but Jason sees him looking through the window and thinks he is spying on his girlfriend Rosie Webster
Rosie Webster
Rosie Webster is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 24 December 1990. Originally portrayed by actress Emma Collinge from her birth until December 1999, the character has since been...
(Helen Flanagan
Helen Flanagan
Helen Joyce Flanagan is a British actress best known for playing Rosie Webster in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.Flanagan has played Rosie Webster in Coronation Street since 2000, when she was ten years old....
) and punches him in the face. The inspector then tells Eileen that he will not help her. Later on she steals a cheque for 10,000 pounds from Carla Connor
Carla Connor
Carla Connor is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. She is portrayed by actress Alison King. Carla was created by producer Steve Frost as part of the new Connor family....
(Alison King
Alison King
Alison King is an English actress. She has had major television roles as Lynda Block in the Sky One television series Dream Team, and as Carla Connor in Coronation Street since 2006.- Early life and education :...
) to Owen and cashes it. Owen discovers this and offers to have a look at the house, hinting to Eileen that he knows she has taken his money. Owen makes clear to Eileen that he knows that she took his money and let her know that she will pay for it. Julie immediately sees that Eileen is upset and asks her what's wrong. Eileen tells her before they devise a plan to break into the builder's yard to get some documents to prove that Owen has committing tax evasion for years. The sisters successfully blackmail Owen with the information that they have and he agrees to fix the roof.
Several weeks later, Owen decides to take revenge against an unsuspecting Eileen, after she tells Sunita Alahan
Sunita Alahan
Sunita Alahan is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Shobna Gulati. She made her first on-screen appearance on 23 March 2001 and remained in the show until 2005, when the character was axed from the serial by producer Tony Wood...
(Shobna Gulati
Shobna Gulati
Shobna Gulati is an English actress, writer, and dancer of Indian origin, best known for playing Anita in Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies, and Sunita Alahan in the long-running soap opera Coronation Street from 2001 to 2006, a role to which she returned at the end of 2009...
) about his dodgy paper work. He sneaks into the Grimshaws' house and manages to locate the incriminating documents. He then destroys the evidence, before calling the police. He tells them about the money that Eileen stole from him and she is subsequently arrested for fraud. Eileen admits that she is guilty of the crime and as it is her first offence and she returned the stolen money, she is released with a caution.
Reception
Eileen Grimshaw has been described as "a firm favourite with fans". Actress Sue Cleaver has commented on her character's popularity to the Belfast Telegraph in 2007: "Everyone seems to love Eileen. I've never had anybody come up and say they don't like her, so I suppose that's a good thing. She's an accessible character and I think everybody knows an Eileen. There's an Eileen in every street." Actress Sue Cleaver has won an award for 'Favourite Female Soap Star' for her role as Eileen.Sue Cleaver has revealed that she received letters of complaint from viewers when Eileen was shown to have a one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
with a boilerman: "I had so many letters of complaint about the one night stand she had with the boiler man. People said she wouldn't do that. She bloody well would! She's got two kids, she's been around the block a bit."
In 2009, Digital Spy editor Kris Green heaped praise upon Sue Cleaver and her part in the Julie/ Paula/ Colin reveal when he stated; 'The outstanding performances from Katy Cavanagh (Julie) and Sharon Duce (Paula) mixed with Street legend Barbara Knox (Rita) and the still criminally underused Sue Cleaver (Eileen) make for compelling viewing'
Low Culture columnist Ruth Deller has included the character as one of the best soap creations during the 2000s. She stated, "Eileen arrived as the decade was just beginning and she’s kept us entertained throughout. Sue Cleaver is great and so is the character. A classic soap matriarch she has the potential to be one of the most enduring and popular characters the Street has ever seen."