Actress Sue Johnston has been congratulated on receiving the freedom of Liverpool by Sir Paul McCartney and Jurgen Klopp. The Royle Family and Brookside star was joined by on-screen husband Ricky Tomlinson for a ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Among those paying tribute to her in video messages played on the evening was Sir Paul, who was celebrating his 82nd birthday that day.
Here’s the moment ex-Beatle Sir #PauMcCartney gave a surprise tribute to award-winning TV actress Sue Johnston at her Freedom of Liverpool ceremony in @TownHallLpool this evening...
.and offered to lend her some sheep to parade in the city! pic.twitter.
com/2kTLgUdWUw — Liverpool City Council (@lpoolcouncil) June 18, 2024 The Beatle, who received the Freedom of Liverpool in 1984, said: “It allowed me to take a flock of sheep through the city centre, so if you need a couple of sheep to borrow just to take them through the streets, I’m your man. “Congratulations, darling, you’re a lovely girl.” Johnston, who grew up in Prescot, Merseyside, put her head in her hands as former Liverpool manager Klopp appeared on screen with a message of congratulations.
She and Klopp, who received the freedom of Liverpool at a ceremony in 2022, were both nominated for the honour two years ago. Johnston said: “When they announced it on the same day as Jurgen that was breathtaking to me, that I was in the same sentence as Jurgen Klopp. “It was very emotional for me.
I cried because I wanted.