Claire Sweeney

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Claire Sweeney
File:Claire sweeney crop.jpg
Sweeney in 2009
Born
Claire Jane Sweeney

(1971-04-17) 17 April 1971 (age 55)
Walton, Liverpool, England
Alma materItalia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
  • broadcaster
Years active1989–present
Children1

Claire Jane Sweeney (born 17 April 1971) is an English actress, singer, and television personality. Known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkhill on Channel 4's Brookside (1991–2003), she also played Roxie Hart in Chicago (West End, 2001–2002) and starred in touring productions of Guys and Dolls (2006), Tell Me on a Sunday (2011), Legally Blonde (2011), and Educating Rita (2012). She was a panellist on ITV's Loose Women between 2003 and 2005, and presented 60 Minute Makeover from 2004 to 2006. Her debut album, Claire, reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart in 2002. Sweeney has portrayed Cassie Plummer on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street since 2023. Her other credits include Candy Cabs (2011), Scarborough (2019), and The Good Ship Murder (2023-2024).

Sweeney has appeared as a contestant on various reality television shows. She was a housemate on the first series of Celebrity Big Brother (2001), competed on the first series of Strictly Come Dancing (2004), and appeared on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice (2024).

Early life

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Sweeney was born in Walton, Liverpool, the daughter of a butcher[1] who had a shop in Toxteth. She trained at the Elliott-Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool, and worked at weekends in her father's shop.[2]

Her first singing gig was at the age of 14 in the Montrose Club in Liverpool, for which she was paid £25.[1] She was then educated full-time at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London.[3] In 1987, she was a member of the Southport Summer Youth Theatre Workshop's production of the musical Hair.

Career

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Sweeney's first major role was as Lindsey Corkhill in the soap opera Brookside, initially as a recurring character from 1991[1] and then as a leading character from 1995 until the programme ended in 2003.

In 2001 Sweeney appeared in the first series of Celebrity Big Brother and Lily Savage's Blankety Blank,[4] and presented ITV's Challenge of a Lifetime.[5] She was also cast as Roxie Hart in the London revival of the musical Chicago.[6] In the same year she became a brand promoter for Marks & Spencer,[7] and a brand ambassador for Fashion World[8] and SlimFast.[9]

In 2002 Sweeney became a forces sweetheart and entertained British Army troops serving in Afghanistan.[10] In the same year she released the album Claire, featuring a mix of original material and cover versions: it peaked at number 15 in the UK Albums Chart in July 2002.[11] She also co-presented BBC One's A Song for Europe with Christopher Price.

In 2003, Sweeney starred in the world tour of the musical revue Fosse, and featured on the album Give Me a Smile by Carl Davis and the BBC Concert Orchestra.[12]

She was a regular panellist on the ITV's Loose Women from 2003 to 2005, and has appeared as a guest panellist several times since then.

In 2004, Sweeney appeared as a contestant on series one of Strictly Come Dancing,[13] being eliminated in week five.

From 2004 to 2006 Sweeney presented the ITV daytime show 60 Minute Makeover.[14]

In 2005 Sweeney presented series four of the Living TV show I'm Famous and Frightened!. She also hosted BBC One's Here Comes the Sun[15] In May 2005 she was among the performers who took part in A Party to Remember event commemorating the 60th anniversary of VE Day.[16]

In 2005 and 2006, Sweeney appeared in pantomime productions of Snow White and Aladdin at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. In July 2006, She took on the role of Miss Adelaide in the British production of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West End for an eight-week run, before touring the UK alongside Patrick Swayze in the same production.

In 2008, she appeared in the ITV documentary Claire Sweeney's Big Fat Diet,[17] in which she gained 2 stone (13 kg) in six weeks as part of a medical experiment.

In 2010 she sang with Carl Davis and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in the Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary concert.[18]

In 2011 Sweeney played both "The Girl" in a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Tell Me on a Sunday and Paulette in the first UK tour of Legally Blonde: The Musical.[19] She also starred as Amanda in the BBC sitcom Candy Cabs.

In 2012, Sweeney appeared in the UK tour of Educating Rita.[20] In 2013, Sweeney appeared in Let's Dance for Comic Relief alongside Natalie Cassidy, Dean Gaffney and Ricky Groves, performing to "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray. They came second to Antony Cotton.[21]

In May and June 2014 ,she appeared in the comedy musical Sex and the Suburbs, co-written by Sweeney and Mandy Muden, at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.[22]

In 2015, Sweeney began presenting her own series, Magic of the Musicals on Magic Radio.[23]

In 2015 and 2016, Sweeney played Velma Von-Tussle in the UK tour of Hairspray.[24] In 2019, Sweeney took part in a special episode of Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night to celebrate Tony Hatch's 80th birthday.[25] She starred as Hayley in the BBC sitcom Scarborough, alongside Jason Manford, Stephanie Cole, and Catherine Tyldesley.[26] On Christmas Day 2019 she presented a biography of Cilla Black on Radio 2.[27]

In July 2021, Sweeney performed at G-A-Y alongside drag queen Veronica Green as part of the regular cabaret night “Defying Musicals”.[28]

Sweeney provided 'alternative Scouse commentary' for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 final in Liverpool, alongside a member of the public chosen via BBC Radio Merseyside's "Voice of Eurovision" talent search campaign, who was revealed on 1 May 2023 to be Paul Quinn.[29]

In April 2023, it was announced that Sweeney would be joining the cast of Coronation Street as Cassandra Plummer, the daughter of Evelyn Plummer and the biological mother of Tyrone Dobbs.[30] In 2024, Sweeney appeared as a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice.[31] She was paired with Colin Grafton and was third to be eliminated.[32]

Charitable work

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Sweeney supports Claire House Children's Hospice,[1] and is a patron of Queenie's Christmas Charity[1] and the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.[33]

Personal life

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Sweeney had a relationship with businessman Billy Oakes for six years, until 2007.[34] She has a son, with her ex-partner Daniel Reilly.[35] Sweeney had a publicised friendship with boxer Ricky Hatton in 2024; both were competitors on Dancing on Ice. It was reported that their relationship ended in the first half of 2025.[36]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Brookside Paula 1 Episode[37]
1991–1992, 1995–2003 Brookside Lindsey Corkhill 1623 episodes
2001 Celebrity Big Brother Herself Housemate; series 1
2003 Clocking Off Katrina Wilkes Episode: "Colin's Story"
2004 Strictly Come Dancing Herself Contestant; series 1
Merseybeat DS Roz Kelly 2 episodes
2004–2006 60 Minute Makeover Herself Presenter
2005 I'm Famous and Frightened! Herself Presenter
2011 Candy Cabs Amanda All 3 episodes
2012 Lemon La Vida Loca Claire Sweeney Episode: "Christmas Special: Merry Keithmas - Part Two"
2014 Holby City Lindsey Kendal Episode: "Collateral"
2018 Benidorm Maxine Episode: #10.9
2019 Doctors Tracey Sanders Episode: "Flawsome"
Scarborough Hayley Cox 3 episodes
2023–2024 The Good Ship Murder Beverley Carnell 9 episodes
2023–present Coronation Street Cassandra Plummer Series regular
2024 Dancing on Ice Herself Contestant; series 16

Discography

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
1996 National Television Awards Most Popular Actress Brookside Nominated
1999 British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Longlisted [38]
Sexiest Female Longlisted
2022 Rainbow Honours Celebrity Ally of the Year Herself Won [39]
2024 TV Times Awards Favourite Supporting Actor (Drama) The Good Ship Nominated [40]
2025 Inside Soap Awards Best Villain Coronation Street Longlisted [41]

References

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