Catherine Tyldesley
“Eva needs to make a fresh start for Susie!”
When Catherine Tyldesley first arrived on the cobbles in 2011, her character Eva didn’t seem to amount to much more than a load of fake tan and a couple of tantrums. With big-name TV actress Michelle Collins – who played Eva’s mum Stella – taking centre stage at the Rovers, spoilt daughter Eva was left to mope in the boozer’s back room. However, true to her Battersby connections, Eva soon came out fighting – and now, seven years later, with Michelle a distant memory, Cath leaves Coronation Street as one of the show’s true shining stars.
Over this time, we’ve witnessed her alter ego love, lose and learn, and as she departs Weatherfield – in the wake of Eva’s recent drama over her baby daughter Susie – the actress is delighted to be leaving on a high, even if her exit is tinged with some sadness… “I love it here, I’m not leaving because I’m unhappy – I’m really grateful for the stuff they’ve given me,” she beams. “I’m so happy with my leaving story, it’s a great exit. Our producer Kate Oates and the writers have been wonderful. It’s surreal to be leaving, and I feel like I’m trying to absorb everyone more than ever, trying to get every last bit of it in.”
It’s no wonder that Eva has decided to say goodbye, with poor Toyah trying to cope with giving up baby
Susie, and Johnny recently kidnapping the little girl. This week, Eva returns as the Connors attend Aidan’s inquest, where it’s a chance for everyone who loved him to gain some closure. And that’s particularly important for Eva, who is about to move on to be with her mum Stella and grandma Gloria.
“She needs a fresh start for Susie – Eva’s decision to move to France isn’t selfish,” explains Catherine. “It’s because of what’s happened with Johnny, and Toyah too – Eva can see how hard it is for her to see Susie every day. In France, Eva has the security of her family there.”
The inquest is a day of high emotion for Johnny, Kate, Carla and Eva, as well as the rest of Aidan’s family. But one good thing to come out of it is a truce between Eva and the traumatised clan.
“The inquest brings Eva closure and creates unity and peace with the Connors,” shares Catherine, who is married to fitness professional Tom Pitfield. “She says to them, ‘I want
Susie to know who her father was and her family, so you must come and visit me’. That’s really nice.”
Given that most of their recent scenes have involved crying and shouting, it must be a relief for Eva to leave after patching things up between her and the Connor clan. But Catherine admits that it’s been a challenge to cope with all the feelings that her character has experienced these past few months.
“It is tiring because you have to go through the emotions to make it believable,” she tells us. “Your nervous system doesn’t understand that you are only pretending. You have to look after yourself and laugh as much as you can in between takes. Shayne Ward, who played Aidan, was always good for that.”
What’s lovely is how close Catherine is to the people with whom she’s shared a screen, particularly Shayne, Jane Danson (Leanne) and Georgia Taylor (Toyah). But it’s not just been her costars – the whole Coronation Street team has supported her over the years.
“There’s not any person here that I don’t get on with,” grins the actress. “Obviously I really miss Shayne, I’m going to miss my sisters – I’ve developed such a good relationship with Jane and Georgia. And I’ll miss all the cast, crew, the make-up girls who make you look human every morning, all of them. My best friend Pete [Ecclestone, the partner of Antony
Cotton, who plays Sean] works in the props department. Before I started in Corrie, I used to do the green room big shop with him as I was an unemployed actress floating about. I was helping stock the fridge, and so now I’ll probably go back to doing that again every week – I did it for ages!”
We seriously doubt that, but Catherine says she and her husband Tom are keeping their options open about what they’ll do next. However, one thing she’s ruling out is another baby – for now.
“The babies who play Susie are gorgeous, they’re twins,” coos the star. “They’re so chilled and easy to work with. But Tom’s like, ‘Stop holding babies!’ I love kids because there are none on the cards any time soon. I feel like I’ve had my baby fix for a while. We
“The inquest into Aidan’s death brings Eva some closure and creates unity and peace with the Connor clan”
are hoping to go to Australia next year, as I have a lot of family over there who haven’t met our son Alfie yet. But in terms of what’s coming up, I’ll see what happens and embrace the journey.”
For now, Catherine and Eva’s Weatherfield journey is over, but the Street favourite says that she’d never rule out a comeback for Eva the diva.
“Of course I’d consider it,” she enthuses. “We don’t know what the future holds, and this has been home for me. From when I was little, I’ve always dreamed of being on
Corrie. I’d love to see Eva come back and wreak some more havoc!
“Coronation Street has completely changed my life,” continues Catherine. “I can’t say I’ve grown up on the show, but in a way, I have. I met my husband while I’ve been filming here, and had our baby. It’s a dream job, and I’ll be forever grateful!”