Sue Cleaver is tired of filming the "dark storylines" on ‘Coronation Street’.
The 54-year-old actress – who plays Eileen Grimshaw in the long-running soap – has admitted she’s really struggling with the gripping plot twists she’s having to shoot for the programme at the moment because they’re becoming so "complicated", but she’s hoping bosses will give her some breathing space this year so she can go travelling.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, Sue – who has appeared on the show for 24 years – explained: "It’s all getting very dark. It’s just too complicated at the moment. I’m so knackered. I’d love a break. I want to travel to China and Japan."
But it looks like things are set to get even more disturbing over the next few months as Eileen’s evil husband Pat Phelan’s (Connor McIntyre) murdering ways are to be exposed and one of his enemies could be about to give him a taste of his own medicine.
Meanwhile, it’s not just Sue who thinks the soap has become quite dark over the last year as viewers regularly take to their social networking sites to slam the new direction.
Following the recent backlash, bosses are looking for a new batch of writers to help bring the soap – which has been on air since 1960 – back to its traditional roots.
In an advert on ITV careers site, the producers are looking for aspiring writers to join a "storyliner workshop" but, even then, it doesn’t guarantee a permanent job at the end.
The advert reads: "How would you like to work in the engine room of the world’s longest-running continuing drama? You will need to have a keen passion for ‘Corrie’, a flair for creative writing and love working in a tight-knit team, then come to our workshop and join our talent pool now! This is not an open vacancy you will only be contacted should a role become live that we would like to speak to you about, these are likely to be short term FTC or freelance opportunities."