ITV I'm A Celebrity campmates and viewers 'mind blown'…

ITV I'm A Celebrity campmates and viewers 'mind blown' as Sue Cleaver shares 'incredible' birth mum story

Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver left both I'm a Celebrity campmates and viewers shocked after revealing how a chance encounter at a theatre led her to meet her birth mother.

Cleaver, who has played Eileen Grimshaw in the ITV soap since 2000, opened up to her fellow reality show contestants about being adopted and how acting “saved” her. The 59-year-old explained that when she was in her early twenties she was at drama school and the Royal Exchange in Manchester were looking for “tiny parts” for the theatre production of Oedipus.

She explained that after walking in on the first day, an actor said: “Oh my god, she’s the absolute double of my wife when I met her,” before asking Cleaver for her date of birth. Cleaver said he then asked where she was born: “And I went, ‘Barnet.’ He rung his wife and he said, ‘I’ve found her’.”

TV presenter Scarlette Douglas gasped at hearing the story: “What!” Meanwhile, former England footballer Jill Scott said: “Nah, that has just given me goosebumps. That is the most incredible story I think I’ve ever heard.”

Comedian Babatunde Aleshe added: “That’s spooky. That’s mad.” Cleaver continued: “She was 16 or 17 when she had me. I think she did what she had to do. I grew up in a very loving family. It’s uncanny and I’ve got two half sisters who are all in the business.

“It’s lovely because my mum and my birth mother, we’ve all met, been out for dinner, we’ve all kept in touch, so we’ve all had a lovely relationship ever since, so it’s a nice ending. I’m very lucky.”

Sue's fellow campers were stunned by the soap star's story (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Later in the Bush Telegraph, Cleaver said: “I’m usually a very private person, I just feel really really safe and supported. It just naturally these things come out, it felt good to share.”

Viewers took to Twitter to share their amazement at the story and praised Cleaver for opening up about it. @adammarkrobson said: "Sue Cleaver’s Mum story is absolutely mindblowing #ImACeleb" while @Patr1ckMcCann added: "Woah! An astonishing story from @Sue_Cleaver - Beautiful!"

@Grace536Grace commented: "@Sue_Cleaver‘s story is so touching..it might explain why she is so wise. #ImACeleb #suecleaver #adoption." as @EmilyPadgett admitted: "Silently sobbing into my red wine after Sue shared her amazing childhood story. Incredibly brave of her to share".

"How Sue Cleaver met her Birth mother is perhaps the maddest story I’ve ever heard WOW !!!!" said @AlanWolfson as @arisonsned added: "Always had a soft spot for Sue Cleaver. Seems like a lovey genuine person. What a story".

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues on ITV on Saturday at 9pm

Read today's top stories here