Claire Sweeney has shared a heartfelt message to Ian “H” Watkins from Steps. The two have a close friendship and the actress was in attendance for the Steps musical opening night last night, September 4.
On Instagram, Coronation Street’s Cassie Plummer actress uploaded a series of snaps from the evening. On the pink carpet, Claire shared a selfie with Ian and captioned it “love you and I’m just so proud of you. Just loved @StepsMusical”. Other posts shared by the former Brookside star included clips from the stage performance, as she focused on Ian wearing a stunning silver suit.
Claire wore an elegant and autumnal brown blazer and pant co-ord as she posed on the carpet. This isn’t the first time Claire has revealed her close bond with the Steps member.
In January, pictures of the two were taken as they said goodbye to their friend and Scouse icon The Vivienne, following the drag performer’s death, aged 32.
She shared pictures of them together, saying: “Friend’s for 30 years, thick and thin, fat and slim, boyfriends, breakups and babies. Second pic taken 25 years ago! I always love you my friend @ianhwatkins treasure your friends.”
Before reuniting at the Manchester Opera House for the special appearance from Steps, Claire posted last week to social media: “Always love to see you @ianhwatkins and can’t wait for the opening of Here and Now The Steps Musical in Manchester next week.”
The musical follows a group of friends working in a seaside supermarket singing and dancing about a summer love that suddenly feels like a tragedy. Here and Now features the songs, 5,6,7,8, Better Best Forgotten and Last Thing On My Mind.
Steps were formed in 1997 and achieved two number-one albums in the UK, 14 consecutive UK top-5 singles including two number ones (one a double A-side). The group has sold over 22 million records worldwide and 15 million albums worldwide.
It was back in 1991, when she was just 20, that Claire took her first steps in her acting career, landing a role playing Lindsey Corkhill in the then hugely popular Channel 4 soap Brookside.
Opening up on the difficult decision to step away from the show, during a chat on the The Speakmans’ Hope Clinic podcast recently, Claire said: “I was literally broken-hearted.
“And I decided, I’ve done six years in Brookside, I’m not married, I’ve got no kids, and my dream since I was a kid was to be in musical theatre. And if I don’t do that now, I’m going to miss the boat, really.”
She has returned to the stage several times since then, with appearances in adaptations of Snow White and Aladdin. Claire now plays the role of Cassandra Plummer on the Cobbles, Tyrone Dobbs’ mum. She has been a regular on the soap since 2023.