Coronation Street fans were amused to see such a big change in grumpy Eileen Grimshaw after an accident involving a pile of pumpkins. In probably the most wacky Halloween-theme incident in soapland, curmudgeonly Eileen took a tumble while lugging the winter squash down the cobbles.
In comical scenes screened on Monday she collided with her arch-nemesis Gail Platt, tripped over one of the dropped pumpkins and knocked herself out. Her partner George Shuttleworth and lodger Sean Tully rushed to Eileen’s aid but were shocked as she came round being uncharacteristically chilled out and pleasant.
Her new sunny disposition continued in Wednesday night's episode as a smiley Eileen told George that she intended to spoil him rotten. She then explained to George how when she came round after her accident, she caught a glimpse of heaven and ever since, she’s felt calm and peaceful.
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Opening up about her heavenly experience she told how she saw a bright light, smelt something sweet and heard music. But when she was out of the room George admitted to Sean that the light was the torch on his phone, the smell was his vanilla slice and the music was Gail's Thai relaxation music ring tone.
Sean asked if he was going to tell her the truth, but George doesn't want to. "She seems more at peace, gentle, kinder, I don't want to spoil that," he explained, despite admitting that the change scared him.
Fans of the ITV soap took to Twitter to say they were floored by the 'new' Eileen the day actress Sue Cleaver, who has played her since 2000, arrived in Australia to take part in the new series of I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! which starts on Sunday November 6. The 59-year-old was spotted touching down in Oz in the early hours of Wednesday morning Australian time ahead of the launch of the new series, and they couldn't help joking about the crossover of ITV shows.
@Bambabalino said: "Eileen looks so beautiful when she's like this, she suits being happy." And @craggsy82 tweeted knowingly: "Eileen is glowing like the Australian Sun gleaming off the Gold Coast."
@ThisIsEmmaHynes asked: "Was Eileen's out of body experience and bright light by any chance her parachuting out of the I'm A Celebrity helicopter to a waiting camera?!" and @karen_renton joked: "George doesn't need to take Eileen to the hospital. She'll be fine when she gets back from Australia."
@matt_johnson_89 commented: "Eileen is not herself, she could do with a holiday. Australia maybe?" And @fansvfavourites wondered if Eileen might be written out by going to hospital "for a bit whilst she’s in the jungle."
@Bebop76845845 complimented: "Eileen actually looks nice when she smiles." But @RyanGSoapKing11 said: "This new side of Eileen is scary."
Co-star Tony Maudsley, who plays George, previously joked about his on-screen partner's whereabouts as she emerged at Brisbane Airport just hours after DJ Chris Moyles and former Love Island contestant Olivia Attwood. He took to Twitter with a jokey message about where his co-star has gone. "Ahh there she is," he started his post with one of the images of the soap star trying to keep a low profile in the Australian airport.
"@Sue_Cleaver has just touched down in Brisbane, wearing her finest jungle print! What could this mean? She told me she was only popping out to Dev's for a loaf!!"
Hours before landing Down Under, the soap star revealed she had become a grandmother for the fourth time before heading off Down Under for the Ant and Dec-fronted reality show. Taking to her social media she proudly shared a picture of her holding the new family member.
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