ITV Coronation Street favourite signs new contract to stay on the cobbles – and it’s good news
Soap legend Claire Sweeney has signed on the dotted line for another year in Coronation Street.
The actress, 53, best known for her role as Lindsey Corkhill in former Channel 4 soap Brookside, joined the cobbles last year as Tyrone Dobbs’ (Alan Halsall) estranged mum Cassie Plummer.
Battling a drug addiction, her mum Evelyn (Maureen Lipman) planned to keep her presence in Weatherfield a secret but in true Corrie style, it wasn’t long before everything was revealed.
In recent months we’ve seen her clash with Abi Webster (Sally Carman) and secure a job at Kevin’s (Michael Le Vell) garage – and it seems she has somewhat of a fancy for the mechanic!
At a Rovers speed dating event, she politely turned down Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson)… Is she going to make a move on her boss?
In heartbreaking scenes, she also confessed to her family that Tyrone was conceived as a result of an assault when she was working as a teenage sex worker.
Talking about her character, who will be staying in Weatherfield for at least another year, Claire told Cheshire Life Magazine: ‘I’ve just signed my contract for another year in Corrie and I’m really happy to fully invest all my time and energy into Cassie and see what develops.
‘I couldn’t be happier about the acting scenes I have done recently in Coronation Street with Dame Maureen Lipman in the Rovers, and with Alan Halsall and Jennie McAlpine in the Dobbs household.’
She continued: ‘When I first came in to Corrie, I did a 14-page scene with Maureen while my character was in hospital. Playing opposite such a phenomenal actor was a dream come true.
‘The writing and direction for that episode was amazing. That is definitely one of my highlights.’
She also teased what’s to come for Cassie, including delving deeper into her past: ‘The writers have given me a beautiful back story, which I hope means the viewers will start to understand who she is and why she is the way she is.
‘She’s just looking for love and really hope she finds that happiness as she’s always been in abusive situations. I think it will be a rocky road for her, so it will be interesting to see what the writers have in store.’
Claire recently stepped out onto a red carpet with a new man, boxing legend Ricky Hatton, whom she met whilst appearing on Dancing On Ice earlier this year.
Skating alongside professional Colin Grafton, she was third to be eliminated from the ITV competition.
