Eileen Grimshaw

[Perdita]

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has revealed that filming her character's upcoming scenes at a train station left her injured.

Eileen Grimshaw races to the station to stop firefighter Paul Kershaw (Tony Hirst) leaving for his new job in Yorkshire next week. However, the dramatic scenes caused the actress to hurt herself.


© ITV
Eileen rushes to stop Paul from leaving


Speaking to TV Choice, Cleaver said: "It's like Brief Encounter because Paul's on a train and Eileen's chasing up the platform.

"Unfortunately, I got a bit enthusiastic during filming, tore my Achilles tendon and have been in plaster for a few weeks. It's only just come off."

Commenting on why Eileen is prepared to let Paul leave in the first place, the actress said: "The saddest thing is that love isn't enough to keep them together. She can't cope with his job and he would be unhappy if he left it, so there's no alternative. She's emotionally exhausted by it all."

Cleaver also admitted that she hopes Eileen will have more fights with Gail Platt (Helen Worth).

"We haven't had a fight for a while. Maybe they'll write one when Helen Worth gets back from her honeymoon!"

[Katy]

I saw her crossing deansgate a while back with a crutch and her leg in plaster, that clarifies it was definitely her

[lizann]

Yeah, he's only witnessed the traumatic death of his colleague - he should really lighten up!

what was his excuse before toni's death then?

[Perdita]

Coronation Street firefighter Paul Kershaw is to be involved in a racism scandal in an upcoming storyline.

The show's producer Stuart Blackburn recently revealed that Paul will spark a big talking point among viewers when he makes a single wrong remark which has huge repercussions.

However, new details have suggested that Paul (Tony Hirst) will find himself at the centre of controversy when he is accused of being a racist by cab driver Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles).

In scenes to be aired this summer, Paul is talking to Steve McDonald and uses the phrase "playing the white man".

Lloyd's daughter Jenna Kamara hears Paul's comment and tells her dad, sparking a row between the two men.

It will cause a big divide as some residents side with Paul and believe it wasn't meant as a racist remark and others side with Lloyd.

Paul is forced to defend himself but refuses to apologise and ends up making matters even worse.

As previously reported, the row will have a big impact on his girlfriend Eileen Grimshaw as she works with both Steve and Lloyd at the cab office.

Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn told the Daily Star: "There's a point when Paul, in a moment of stupidity and stress, makes one wrong remark.

"It's a remark he dismisses as nothing but what it takes us into is something of pride, loyalty and principle. It's a story that's going to ripple through Weatherfield and jeopardise Eileen's relationship not just with Paul but with Steve and Lloyd as well.

"I think it's one of those modern stories that will get everyone talking."

[Dazzle]

Coronation Street firefighter Paul Kershaw is to be involved in a racism scandal in an upcoming storyline.

This has the potential to be a good, character-led storyline if written well and not sensationalised.

[tammyy2j]

Well Paul was with a fellow firefighter last night in the pub and he was mixed race and despite Toni dying there he has no problem going for a drink in the Rovers with him and Eileen

[parkerman]

Well Paul was with a fellow firefighter last night in the pub and he was mixed race and despite Toni dying there he has no problem going for a drink in the Rovers with him and Eileen

Yes, no doubt all part of the sledgehammer approach to the storyline. Soap scriptwriters are not noted for their subtlety.

[tammyy2j]

Is Eileen not sleeping over Paul working nights leading to her becoming addicted to sleeping tablets perhaps, then all the four soaps have characters with tablet addictions

[Perdita]

Coronation Street's Eileen Grimshaw will find her relationship with Paul Kershaw facing more trouble next week.

Just when things seem to be looking up for Paul (Tony Hirst) after he manages to bury the hatchet with Lloyd, Sophie Webster makes a complaint to his boss about his racist language.

Believing that Lloyd (Craig Charles) made the complaint, Paul storms into the pub and punches a clueless Lloyd. The police then arrive to investigate what has been going on with the two men and Paul might be charged. What will this mean for his already strained relationship with Eileen?

Here, Sue Cleaver - who plays Eileen - discusses the latest turn of events and what this could mean for Eileen and Paul's future.

How has Eileen been coping since Paul's run-in with Lloyd?
"To be honest she has been getting quite frustrated with it all and how it has been rumbling along.

"She had hoped it would just all get sorted out, but it is carrying on... she has also had to deal with the trouble Paul has had a work due to the complaint from the mother of the hoax caller he shouted at."

How has life on the Street been since then?
"Every time it looks as though it is getting back to normal, something happens which brings it all up again. She had to step in when Paul and Lloyd had a row on the street and almost came to blows. She has also found it difficult working with Lloyd as he is her boss."

Is anyone supporting her?
"Eileen is very self sufficient - she deals with problems herself and she is trying to be supportive of Paul."

Is Jason any help?
"Not really, he is not getting too involved, he initially was not too impressed with what Paul said and did tell him, but hasn't really got embroiled in it all since then."

Has it revealed a new side of Paul?
"She has always known that he is stubborn, but she has been surprised at how this has escalated out of control and also the anger and violence is not something she is used to from Paul."

How has it affected their relationship?
"They have been through such a tough time recently anyway with all her problems with his job. So this is an added pressure that they didn't need - they had only just got back to some sort of normality, and now this is putting a strain on them again. They haven't had an easy relationship at all, from the way it started out to the problems they have had along the way."

Are they strong enough to cope?
"Only time will tell. They don't have a solid foundation for their relationship because of everything that has happened, and they have not been together that long - so that does make it harder to deal with situations like this when they crop up."

Is she looking forward to the wedding?
"This has just taken the shine off it for her. She can't focus on it at the moment until this is all sorted."

Is she convinced it will happen?
"At this stage she doesn't think this is going to stop the wedding, Paul is worried about work so things are not great, but the wedding is still planned."

How does she feel to find out Sophie has made a complaint about Paul?
"She is furious as she had thought that things were starting to settle down. She is furious as Paul and Lloyd seemed to be moving on, and this is the worst possible thing that could have happened."

Is it likely he'll lose his job?
"The problem is that he has been under investigation over having a go at the young hoax caller, and then prior to that there was all the problems following Toni's death and her telling his boss he was not fit to go back to work.

"The best thing for him right now would be to keep his head down and get on with his job, but now this has happened, that is unlikely. His boss comes round to the house to talk to him about the allegations, and Paul is shocked and devastated."

How does the fight come about? Does Eileen witness Paul punching Lloyd?
"He is in the pub and has just found out that someone has reported him to the Fire Brigade for racism.

"He is convinced it was Lloyd and when he sees him and Steve leave the pub, he chases after him and has a go at him in the street and he punches him. Eileen is not there, but when she hears about it later she is absolutely furious with him."

How does Paul deal with her reaction?
"Paul is arrested and taken to the police station and comes home feeling very sorry for himself, but she makes it clear he has brought it all on himself and shows him no sympathy - he is really shocked."

Has there been any point where Eileen has doubted Paul?
"She has never believed for a moment that he is racist. She knows it was an ignorant use of racist language, but it is the way he has acted afterwards that has caused the problem."

Can she make Paul do the right thing?
"It has gone past that stage now. She had persuaded him to be civil to Lloyd, but every time it looked like it was resolved something else happened to make the row carry on.

"Now it has got to this stage and his job is at risk and the police have got involved, there is very little she can say or do."

What's the best thing about working with Tony?
"I love working with Tony - he is a great actor and we have become great friends over the past couple of years. Sometimes though it is hard to keep a straight face when we are doing serious scenes!"

Do viewers want them to be together?
"Yes, the viewers do seem to really like them as a couple and want to see Eileen happy for once. But this is soap and Eileen is not the sort of woman who ever has any real luck, so it doesn't bode well for them!"

[Perdita]

Coronation Street's Eileen Grimshaw jumps from one complicated romance plot to another next week as she shares a shock kiss with Michael Rodwell.

Eileen turns her attentions to Michael (Les Dennis) after her relationship with Adrian Mortimer ends due to the ruthless meddling of her son Todd.

With Eileen nursing a broken heart, she can relate to Michael once she learns that his marriage to Gail has also hit the rocks following her deception over 'Fake Gavin'.

Michael drunkenly reveals Andy and Gail's lies to the rest of the Street's residents at the Bistro next week, which prompts Eileen to show her support for him.

Michael reveals that Andy is an impostor
© ITV
Michael reveals that Andy is an impostor

Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen, commented: "Eileen is shocked when Michael drunkenly announces to anyone who will listen the truth about Gavin not being Gavin and how Gail helped Andy keep up the pretence. There is no love lost between Eileen and Gail, so Eileen tells Gail exactly what she thinks of her and whisks Michael off to her house.

"They bond over the fact that both their families have deceived them. It's while they are talking about what has been happening to them both that there is a moment. There is a spark between them and they kiss.

"It isn't premeditated - it is spur of the moment. They have always got on really well when working together, but Eileen has not really thought of him in that way before, so this takes her by surprise."

Eileen and Michael try to cheer each other up
© ITV
Eileen and Michael try to cheer each other up

The surprise moment of intimacy is cut short when Michael suddenly struggles for breath and collapses in agony, which leads to him being rushed to hospital.

Cleaver continued: "It seems that the heat of the moment is too much for Michael, probably coupled with the stress of the day, and he collapses on Eileen's sofa!

"Eileen has to confide in the doctor what was happening at the time of his collapse, but Michael and Eileen have both agreed not to tell Gail about their kiss. It's very awkward, with the two of them at his bedside and Gail asking questions about what exactly happened leading up to his collapse!

"The writers love having Eileen and Gail as enemies, so when Gail finds out about Eileen and Michael it will no doubt lead to more arguments - maybe another fight! The fight on the street is the scene that so many people remember, so we have set the bar high!"

Eileen rushes to Michael as he collapses
© ITV
Eileen rushes to Michael as he collapses

Gail questions Eileen about Michael's collapse
© ITV
Gail questions Eileen about Michael's collapse

Cleaver kept tight-lipped on whether Eileen and Michael's connection could go further, but she hinted that her unlucky-in-love character may have to focus on her family problems first and foremost.

She said: "The thing about Michael is that he is a nice guy. She almost had that with Adrian and she was tempted by something more exciting, so Michael may be too nice. Although there is an appeal for Eileen in the fact that her being with Michael will really wind Gail up!

"I think she is off men for the time being, but actually the friendship between her and Michael is real, so it will be interesting to see where that leads. For now she is going to concentrate on sorting out her family, I think."