Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver delivers empowering message as she reunites with former co-star

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver was reunited with former co-star Catherine Tyldesley as they spilled the beans on their life "Off the Cobbles" at a special event in Salford. The two soap queens were guests of honour at the annual Variety Vixens charity lunch held at the five star Lowry Hotel.

Sue has recently published her first book, A Work in Progress which explores her life experiences and offers advice and tips for others who may have experience low self esteem. At the event she also delivered some empowering messages about how she achieved her own life transformation.

Cath and Sue were joined by over 230 guests for the "Off the Cobbles" event which raised money for Variety, the Children’s Charity.

READ MORE: Coronation Street confirms major move for fans after Joel Deering murder suspect unmasked

Organised by the Variety Vixens’ fundraisers Fiona Parkinson, Jo Booth, and Paula Castle, the lunch saw the two actresses share stories about life on and off the cobbles of Coronation Street in an interview with Liz Taylor of Liz Taylor Consultancy. The event has raised over £11,595 for the charity so far.

At the event, Sue, 61, was asked if she has a public face and a private face, to which she replied: "Yes, in the past very much so. In the book I have just written I talk about how in the first half of my life I wasn't comfortable on telly. I wasn't comfortable in myself.

"I was living with imposter syndrome and not feeling good enough. Then I got to 40 and thought I have to sort this out. The last 20 years I feel has been my transformation.

The I'm A Celebrity star added: "As women, we only ever show what we want everyone to see. There are things we think about ourselves. Things we say about ourselves.

"If I turned to Cath and said - you look very ugly - everyone would be horrified and come to Cath's defence, and yet we look in the mirror and say these things to ourselves. We have to stop."

On the same question, Cath, 41, replied: "I've always been fairly open and I think a big part of that comes from doing Coronation Street, as your life does change overnight. I've always been quite open to talking about my life and family.

"When I'm at home, that's when I'm really relaxed. Walking around in my trackies and spending time with family.

"They always say I have a split personality because I am super ambitious and work makes me incredibly happy, but then there is the other Cath, who just wants to stay home and bake with the kids. So, I try to indulge both sides."

In a touching story, Sue also told the audience about how she first found her birth mother. She said: "When I was at drama school in Manchester, the Royal Exchange were doing Oedipus with David Threlfall, and they wanted a couple of soldiers for some small parts. So, they chose me and Steve Coogan, who was in my year at drama school.

"So, we go in and we walk in and there is an actor there called Michael Harper. He says to David Threlfall. Oh my Lord, she’s the spit of my wife when she was that age. And, to cut a long story short, his wife was my mother.

“I then found out I had two half-sisters who are in the business. And when I met my mum Lesley, she introduced me to a friend who lived with them for a while. A lady called Helen, who was the only person who knew she had a child adopted, and that Helen was Helen Worth, Gail in Corrie."

Cath was also asked about working with Shayne Ward, who is currently in Strictly Come Dancing, on the Good Ship Murder. She said: "He's a real sweetheart. He is what you see. He wears his heart on his sleeve. We had a great relationship having been boyfriend and girlfriend in Corrie. It's bizarre we're now working on Good Ship Murder together.

"My agent phoned me up on a Wednesday and said, Cath you've got the job, you need to be in Malta from Friday. She said, I'm just letting you know the male lead is Shayne Ward, do you two get on?

"Well, do we get on. We're like the naughty kids at school that shouldn't sit together. So it's been a joy working with him again. We've just finished season 2."

When asked if she felt he would win Strictly this year, Cath replied: "I think he's certainly in with a shot".

One of the event organisers Jo Booth paid her thanks to the two stars for supporting their event. She said: "What a wonderful day we’ve had, and I am thrilled that we have been able to raise so much money. We have been supporting Variety, the Children’s Charity for a number of years with an annual event.

"I am continually in awe of their amazing work for children across the region. Thank you to all the ladies who attended, to Elle Sera as the sponsor guest’s gift bags, The Lowry Hotel, Liz Taylor, and Cath and Sue."

Cath added: “When I was asked to support the event by Liz Taylor, I jumped at the chance. As a mother myself, I see how important the work of this charity is and what a difference it makes in young people’s lives.

"The audience was brilliant. I was delighted to join ladies so committed to supporting Variety, the Children’s Charity.”

Lyn Staunton, Variety, the Children’s Charity development director for the northwest added: "It’s been a wonderful afternoon. The money raised will be used to enrich and support the lives of young people across the northwest. It really does make a huge difference to our work. Thank you to everyone involved, and as always to the Variety Vixens for making this event happen."