Eileen Grimshaw (formerly Phelan) is a character in Coronation Street who first appeared in 2000. She is the mother of Jason Grimshaw and Todd Grimshaw and is a distant relation of Elsie Tanner through the Grimshaw line. Eileen married sly and villainous Pat Phelan due to his charm but she soon found out what he was really like and after he died in 2018, Eileen reverted back to Grimshaw. Eileen is played by Sue Cleaver.
Biography[]
Backstory[]
Eileen Grimshaw was born on the 7th October 1961 to Colin Grimshaw and his wife. Colin's older first cousin Elsie Tanner (Nee Grimshaw) lived in the area. Eileen was Colin and Mrs Grimshaw's only child. Colin later had an affair with another woman, and had an illegitimate daughter Julie. Eileen met Tony Stewart in 1982 and they had a son Jason Grimshaw in June 1983. Tony was 3 years younger than Eileen. They soon split and Eileen met Duncan and in January 1985, she had a child by him, Todd Grimshaw.
2000-[]
Eileen began working for Street Cars in May 2000 on the switch. She moved round the corner to Coronation Street with her sons Jason and Todd. She was in a relationship with Dennis Stringer but split up due to his affair with Janice Battersby. Dennis later died in 2002. In 2003 she developed a feud with Gail Platt, as her daughter Sarah began dating Todd. Todd came out as gay which added fuel to the fire between the two women and they scrapped in the street. Todd left the street in 2004, and Eileen took on Sean Tully as a lodger.
In December 2008 Eileen's father Colin came back into her life after many years. In early 2009 she crossed paths with old school friend Paula Carp, whose daughter Julie Carp just happened to move onto the street the previous year. But Eileen was shocked to discover that Julie was Colin's daughter (making her Eileen's half-sister), due to him having sex and impregnating a 14 year old Paula back in the late 1970s. This caused a further strain in their relationship, although a pitiful Eileen took Colin into the household in May 2009 following him suffering a stroke. When Paula reported him to the police, Colin died on the couch from a heart attack out of stress. Paula left the street and Eileen had no further contact with her.
Following her dad's death, Eileen hoped to find happiness in children's entertainer Jesse Chadwick, whom she met briefly the previous year. He moved into her house but she grew frustrated with his lack of commitment or dedication to her. They briefly split at the beginning of 2010, but reconciled in March 2010. Eileen found out Jesse tried to get with Julie during their separation, so chased him from the street for good.
In 2011 Eileen began working for Owen Armstrong at his Builder's Yard and grew an attraction to him. Eileen found herself in hardships due to having roof problems which was a result of the tram crashing into the street back in December 2010. Although she asked Owen to help her with the roof at mates rates, he refused. Eileen stole money from Owen although immediately regretted it and tried to pay him back. He refused and threatened her with the police. Julie helped Eileen steal his accounting books which would expose his tax dodging, and Owen backed down. However Owen recovered his files and reported Eileen to the police. Eileen wasn't sentenced and instead let off with a caution due to it being her first offense. She began working at Underworld, although later returned to Street Cars.
In 2013 Todd returned in Eileen's life, although he brewed up trouble on the street due to becoming bitter in the nine years since he left. Eileen got fed up with Todd's scheming and disowned him in late 2014, although took pity and allowed him back in when he suffered at the hands of a violent mugging. But Todd wasn't so forgiving and later duped Eileen by posing as a potential online lover named Jeff, and exposed the deceit in the Bistro. Todd then moved out of the household, satisfied with his "revenge" plan.
In 2016 Eileen met builder Pat Phelan and the pair grew close and he later moved in, despite repeated warnings from his enemy Anna Windass, who said Pat raped her in the past. Eileen refused to believe it. She allowed Pat to help run Jason's builder's yard while Jason was living in Thailand. Eileen and Pat married in January 2017, with Eileen being unaware that earlier that day Pat kidnapped and imprisoned Andy Carver in the basement of a derelict house. In March 2018 Pat confessed to being involved in the deaths of Michael Rodwell, Andy Carver, Vinny Ashford and Luke Britton when Pat's crimes were about to be exposed. They ended up in a standoff at a lighthouse in which Pat tried to convince Eileen to come wit her. During a struggle Pat was left dangling from the lighthouse and begged Eileen to save him. In fear, Eileen stamped on his hands and caused him to fall into the sea. Pat returned in May 2018 to abduct his son Zach but accidentally shot his daughter Nicola Rubenstein. Pat held the Bistro hostage although was stopped when stabbed and killed by Anna Windass, who was released from prison having been wrongfully set up by Pat.
Personality[]
Gallery[]
Appendices[]
List of addresses[]
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Employment history[]
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Memorable info[]
Appearances: 7 Oct 2000-26 Apr 2024, Jul 2024-
Born: October 1961
Full Name: Eileen Phelan (Nee Grimshaw)
Parents: Colin Grimshaw and Mrs. Grimshaw
Siblings: Julie Carp (half, same father)
Grandfathers: Mr Grimshaw
Spouse: Pat Phelan (2017-2018) [deceased]
Children: Jason Grimshaw (1983), Todd Grimshaw (1985)
Grandchildren: Billy Platt
Great Uncles: Arthur Grimshaw
First cousin once removed: Elsie Tanner
Second Cousins: Linda Cheveski, Dennis Tanner
Second Cousins Once Removed: Paul Cheveski, Martin Cheveski
Trivia[]
- Eileen is the second cousin of Dennis Tanner through Eileen's father Colin and Dennis' mother Elsie Tanner (Nee Grimshaw). Colin's father and Elsie's father Arthur Grimshaw were brothers, making Colin and Elsie first cousins. So the children of Colin and Elsie would be second cousins.