‘I've Finally Started To Enjoy Christmas Again'

Sue Cleaver talks to Richard Arnold about her festive plans and why this year is more poignant than ever

She’s best known as Coronation Street’s Eileen Grimshaw, but Sue Cleaver is looking forward to having two weeks off from the cobbles. Yet from decorating her home to doing all the cooking, it doesn’t sound like Sue, 56, will be getting much downtime!

Do you love Christmas?

I am a fan – I wasn’t for many years because I lost my dad at Christmas but yes, I enjoy it, I do. I just love having a houseful.

Christmas for you must be an emotional time then…

When Dad died, and of course for a few years after that, it would always hit me – like for many people – at this time of year. It was tough. But we’ve really started to enjoy it more in recent years.

So do you decorate the house from top to bottom?

I have a tree – a couple of them, in fact. I was one of those awful mothers who made my son, Elliot, have a separate tree, so he could put on all the things he made at school and mine could be color coordinated.

When do you put your tree up?

I used to put it up on Christmas Eve so that it would only be up for two weeks, which I still think is so much better because you don’t end up with pine needles all around the house. But I have taken to putting it up earlier now because I like the smell. Unlike some people, Richard, who I know get the tree delivered on the 1st, trimmed, and taken away.