Brookside and West End star Claire Sweeney is set to shake things up on the cobbles when she makes her Coronation Street debut this week.
Cassandra Plummer, the daughter of Maureen Lipman’s character Evelyn Plummer, shows up out of the blue – leaving Evelyn with a major dilemma, as she has to decide whether to reveal the truth about her that she has kept secret for years.
It’s going to make for dramatic viewing in the coming months – but just who is Claire, and who is Cassandra?
Here’s what you need to know about her, and her new small screen alter ego…
Who is Claire Sweeney and what TV shows has she appeared in?
Claire Sweeney, 52, is from Walton in Liverpool, and is known as an actress, singer, presenter, broadcaster and West End star.
She originally found fame playing Lindsey Corkhill in Channel 4 soap Brookside, appearing as a recurring character from 1991, before becoming a leading character from 1995 until 2003, when the soap came to an end.
Her other small screen acting roles have included Clocking Off, Candy Cabs, Benidorm, Holby City and Doctors – while onstage she starred as Roxie Hart in the West End revival of Chicago, as well as appearing in the likes of Guys and Dolls, Hairspray, Legally Blonde: The Musical and Tell Me On A Sunday.
Claire was also a regular panellist on Loose Women from 2003 until 2005 and has appeared as a guest panellist several times since, as well as presenting celebrity reality show I’m Famous and Frightened, and ITV’s 60 Minute Makeover.
More recently, she provided ‘alternative Scouse comedy’ for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool, alongside a member of the public chosen via BBC Radio Merseyside’s ‘Voice of Eurovision’ talent search.
She’s even had a brush with the charts, having reached number 15 in 2002 with her self-titled album Claire.
Is Claire in a relationship?
Claire is currently thought to be single, having split from her fiance Daniel Reilly in 2015 – just nine months after the birth of their son Jaxon.
The pair said at the time: ‘Whilst we have decided not to remain together we are committed to bringing up our wonderful son and making sure we are great parents and supporting each other to achieve that.’
Claire – who was also in a relationship with businessman Tony Hibbard from 2001 until 2007, recently told OK! she is ‘open’ to dating once again, but added: ‘At the moment I’m so busy with Jaxon and Corrie and everything else.
‘If I met someone amazing then that would be lovely but it’s out of my hands.’
Who is Cassandra Plummer?
Cassandra – also known as Cassie – is Tyrone’s (Alan Halsall) biological mother.
Ty spent most of his life believing that Jackie Dobbs was his mum, but in upcoming scenes he is set to learn the truth.
It’ll transpire that Evelyn abandoned Ty at the station because she believed Cassie wasn’t able to look after her son, as she also had a major addiction to drugs.
As secrets and lies from the past arrive in the present, what will this mean for Tyrone and his relationship with Evelyn, and can he build a connection with his real mum?
On joining the cast back in April, Claire said: ‘Even though I’ve been lucky enough to have enjoyed an amazingly varied career for nearly 40 years – being cast in Coronation Street is, to me, better than being cast in a Hollywood movie!
‘I’ve watched it all my life and can’t quite believe that I’ll now be stepping onto those famous cobbles myself. I was really nervous when I got the scripts to audition as this show means so much to me and my family and this is Corrie gold,
I was beyond thrilled and very grateful when I got the call that Iain MacLeod is trusting me to play Tyrone’s Mum and work alongside one of my heroes, Dame Maureen Lipman.’
Coronation Street continues on Wednesday night on ITV at 7.30pm.
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