'Speechless' Sue Johnston on first person she wanted to tell about Freedom of Liverpool

Being awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool means more than being honoured by the Queen according to its latest recipient.

Sue Johnston became the latest member of the roll of honour at Liverpool Town Hall last night as she was conveyed with the city’s highest civic award. The veteran actor joins Scouse luminaries such as the Beatles and Gerry Marsden in being recognised.

Speaking exclusively to the ECHO, Sue said being recognised in her home city left her “overwhelmed.”

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Liverpool Town Hall was standing room only as the great and the good of the city paid tribute to the 80-year-old actor. Best known for her role as Sheila Grant in Brookside and Barbara Royle in The Royle Family, she has enjoyed a long and successful career, she made her television debut in Coronation Street playing a minor role as Mrs Chadwick.

Flanked by family and friends, the veteran actor was joined by dignitaries from the world of football and the screen to celebrate the honour. Paying tribute in a special ceremony in the council chamber, Lord Mayor Richard Kemp said Liverpool had taken Sue “into our hearts, big style,” applauding her “outstanding contribution to the TV and film industry.”

This year marks 15 since she was awarded an OBE for services to drama and charity and Sue said being recognised by her home city may have just eclipsed that. She said: “That was a great honour but I think this means more to me because it’s Liverpool.

“It’s my history, it’s inside me, it’s in my genes, I grew up here. I went to school here, I did everything, across the Mersey back and to, like we all did, trying to dodge the fare.

“I’ve always loved it and I was here working in Liverpool during the Merseybeat years so that was just amazing to be around Liverpool and a part of it. Then to go and work for Brian Epstein, how lucky was I? Then to get Brookside, lucky again.”

Among those paying tribute on Tuesday night was Sir Paul McCartney who sent a special video message as Sue received her honorary scroll from city officials. She reflected on the moment she found out and the ceremony at the Town Hall.

She said: “It’s so incredible, it makes you speechless, how do you say what you feel about it? People have asked me how I feel and I’m overwhelmed, I just think it’s such an honour and so kind, I’m blown away.

“The first person I wanted to tell, that I knew this would mean more than anything I’ve ever done, was my dad. He was such a scouser and he loved this city. I think my mum would be proud too, but she was from Warrington!”

Sue has been a lifelong Liverpool fan, saying following the Reds had been another gift from her father. She was visibly shocked when outgoing boss Jurgen Klopp appeared on screen last night to wish her well.

The decision to award her with the freedom of the city was decided on the same night the German was also given the recognition and she attended his ceremony at the Town Hall.

Did she give him any tips?

Sue said: “I haven’t seen him, sadly since. I’ve no idea about Mr Slot, I haven’t looked him up, I thought I’d wait until the beginning of the season and Jurgen has told us all to get behind him and we will.”

Sue has become synonymous for her decades of screen work with Ricky Tomlinson in Brookside and the Royle Family but has turned her hand to dramatic roles in Downton Abbey and Waking the Dead. She said she had stayed true to her Scouse background but had been keen to show her range throughout a long and fruitful career.

She said: “I’ve played a lot of northern characters and it becomes very easy because my roots are there but hopefully I can play others as well, you need to be versatile as an actor. I think because I was in theatre for 20 years before I did telly, you learn how to play lots of different roles.

“I was doing Coronation Street, got three episodes, my first job in telly and I got sent by my agent to do this interview for Brookside and it was in Mathew Street. It was opposite the Cavern and I felt I’d gone full circle.”

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