‘I’ll miss Eva, not her dress sense’

It’s been a tearful time for Catherine Tyldesley lately.

Her character on Coronation Street, Eva, has faced a heartbreaking few months after ex-boyfriend, Aidan Connor took his own life.

And then there’s the fact the Manchester-born actress, 34, is bidding farewell to the cobbles, with her emotional final scenes due to air next week.

“There’s zero point in me wearing mascara or fake tan at my leaving do as I’ll be a streaky mess,” admits the chirpy mum-of-one. “I’m gonna cry a lot.

“Corrie has completely changed my life. I met my husband while I’ve been filming here and had my baby.

“I feel I’ve gone through so much personally alongside the show. It has been home.”

In true soap fashion, we can expect Eva’s exit scenes, which take place at the inquest into Aidan’s death, to be an intense watch.

We see her turn up to give evidence at the last minute, with her daughter Susie in tow, just as Aidan’s dad, Johnny, is beginning to give up hope he will be able to see his granddaughter one more time.

“It brings unity and peace for good with the Connors,” suggests Catherine.

What she is planning post-corrie is some family travelling, with a few countries on the to-do-list.

“The big one is Australia,” she says. “I have a lot of family over there.”

She would be up for going to LA for work, and lists people she dreams of working with, including Dame Julie Walters and Kate Winslet.

But, if there’s one part about playing barmaid Eva Catherine won’t miss, it’s her style choices.

“Some of the outfits have been mad,” she laughs. “I’m looking forward to saving money on fake tan and nails!”