Claire Sweeney will be testing her wits on Celebrity Catchphrase this evening. She recently shared a personal update and was flooded with support from her social media followers. The soap star has been a hit with fans ever since she arrived on Coronation Street as Cassandra Plummer in 2023.
She has been at the heart of several gripping storylines on the ITV soap. The troubled character is Tyrone Dobbs’ biological mum and has worked hard to get back on the right path, as she got a job caring for Ken Barlow. However, Cassie found herself in a desperate situation and began poisoning the soap legend.
The family soon discovered Cassie’s evil act and kicked her out. But in a funny turn of events, the incident brought Cassie closer to Tracy Barlow’s ex Steve McDonald. The two have recently confirmed their relationship and the Barlow’s are not best pleased.
Claire’s life away from the screen is fortunately much less dramatic as she regularly shares updates on Instagram. She recently shared a post to celebrate International Soap Week, reflecting on what a privilege it is to be part of the iconic soap.
Sharing a photograph of her in character as Cassie, Claire wrote: “I am now proud to be in @coronationstreet a soap I grew up with. Every Monday and Wednesday 7.30 pm we all sat down as a family to watch Corrie.
“Thrilled to be playing Tyrone’s mum, Steve McDonald’s girlfriend and Evelyn’s daughter. I can still quote lines from some of my favourite scenes over the years. The PALS scene in the cabin with Rita and Bet being one of them written by Adele Rose.”
Taking to the comments. one Corrie fan wrote: “You and Steve – the perfect double act. You bounce off one another – literally! Great to watch & bring a bit of light heartedness to the cobbles.”
Another said: “Wonderful darling I’ve watched Corrie from the seventies.” A third said: “Bloody love you! And Cassie!” with a red love heart emoji. A fourth added: “From Brookside to Corrie! Legend.”
Claire, who hails from Walton, kickstarted her career on Channel 4’s Liverpool-based soap, Brookside, when she played Lindsey Corkhill.
But she is now over the moon to have been able to join the world of soaps again. She told the ECHO and other press when she joined Corrie in 2023: “I’m a single mum and my decisions are not only based on the love of what I do but they’re based on stability for me and my son.
“I’m 52 years of age now. Not only is it the best soap, not only is she a wonderful part but having stability for a while just comes at the right time as well. Not touring in a musical in a different place every week. I get to have my full weekends with my boy now, which is lovely.”
Speaking about her storyline which involved her poisoning soap legend Ken Barlow, she said: “I was shocked, it’s Ken Barlow, he’s a national treasure.
“I’m going to be Public Enemy No 1! I think viewers are going to hate her. The funny thing is that they’ve just started to like her – they were finally warming to her – and then this happens.
“In my head, playing her, I’m trying to find saving graces, but I don’t know if there will be any. I’m a Corrie fan and I’d be fuming watching this.
“Already in the summer when I went on holiday to Majorca all the old dears were saying to me: ‘You leave Ken alone,’ ‘Don’t you be upsetting Ken now.’ And that was before I’d done anything!”