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).
Claire Sweeney | |
|---|---|
 Sweeney in 2009 | |
| Born | Claire Jane Sweeney 17 April 1971 |
| Alma mater | Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Partner(s) | Tony Hibbard (2001–2007) Daniel Reilly (2013–2015) |
| Children | 1 |
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
editSweeney 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. In 1987, she was a member of the Southport Summer Youth Theatre Workshop's production of the musical Hair.
Career
editSweeney'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,[3] and presented ITV's Challenge of a Lifetime.[4] She was also cast as Roxie Hart in the London revival of the musical Chicago.[5] In the same year she became a brand promoter for Marks & Spencer,[6] and a brand ambassador for Fashion World[7] and SlimFast.[8]
In 2002 Sweeney became a forces sweetheart and entertained British Army troops serving in Afghanistan.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]
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,[12] being eliminated in week five.
From 2004 to 2006 Sweeney presented the ITV daytime show 60 Minute Makeover.[13]
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[14] In May 2005 she was among the performers who took part in A Party to Remember event commemorating the 60th anniversary of VE Day.[15]
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,[16] in which she gained 2 stone (13 kg) in six weeks as part of a medical experiment.
In December 2008 she starred in the pantomime Snow White at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent. In December 2009 she played Carrion the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley.
In 2010 she sang with Carl Davis and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in the Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary concert.[17]
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.[18] She also starred as Amanda in the BBC sitcom Candy Cabs.
In 2012, Sweeney appeared in the UK tour of Educating Rita.[19] From November 2012 to January 2013 she starred in the White Christmas musical at the Lowry in Salford Quays.
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.[20]
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.[21]
Since 2015 Sweeney has presented her own series, Magic of the Musicals on Magic Radio.[22]
In 2015 and 2016 Sweeney played Velma Von-Tussle in the UK tour of Hairspray.[23]
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.[24] She starred as Hayley in the BBC sitcom Scarborough, alongside Jason Manford, Stephanie Cole, and Catherine Tyldesley.[25] On Christmas Day 2019 she presented a biography of Cilla Black on Radio 2.[26]
In July 2021, Sweeney performed at G-A-Y alongside drag queen Veronica Green as part of the regular cabaret night “Defying Musicals”.[27]
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.[28]
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.[29]
In 2024, Sweeney appeared as a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice.[30] She was paired with Colin Grafton and was third to be eliminated.[31]
Charitable work
editSweeney supports Claire House Children's Hospice,[1] and is a patron of Queenie's Christmas Charity[1] and the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.[32]
Personal life
editSweeney had a relationship with businessman Billy Oakes for six years, until 2007.[33] She has a son, Jaxon, with her ex-partner Daniel Reilly.[34]
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | The Good Ship Murder | Beverley Carnell | 8 episodes |
| 2023–present | Coronation Street | Cassandra Plummer | Series regular |
| 2024 | Dancing on Ice | Herself | Contestant; series 16 |
Discography
edit- Claire (2002)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e McBride, Lorraine (12 April 2015). "Claire Sweeney: 'I've bought lots of property, Turkey was a disaster'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 January 2022.(subscription required)
- ^ King, Mark (13 April 2012). "Claire Sweeney: my Saturday job". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 27 May 2001. ITV.
- ^ "Sweeney offered ITV challenge". BBC News. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Leitch, Luke (14 October 2001). "Our Claire to face Roxie music". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "M&S to use Big Brother and Brookside star to promote bras". Campaign. 4 June 2001. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Claire Sweeney at Fashion World HQ - A Labour Of Love!". Fashion World. YouTube. 3 February 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Introducing The Latest SlimFast Ambassador - Claire Sweeney". SlimFast. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ De Bertodano, Helena (18 July 2002). "A tonic for the troops". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 29 January 2022.(subscription required)
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. p. 543. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Give Me a Smile: Songs and Music of World War II". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Strictly Come Dancing (2004– ) |Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Peter Andre's 60 Minute Makeover | Episode #1.1". IMDb. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Here Comes the Sun (2003)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "David Beckham records a special message for VE Day concert". BBC Press Office. 5 May 2005. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Claire Sweeney's Big Fat Diet". ITV Press Centre. 12 December 2008. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010.
- ^ "Lichfield Arts Festival makes Staffordshire the focus". BBC News. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "UK Tour (2011)". Legally Blonde The Musical. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Theatre unveils a star line-up". Bath Chronicle. 1 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014.
- ^ "Liverpool star Claire Sweeney says Lets Dance for Comic Relief". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Morgan, Georgia (27 February 2014). "Sex and the Suburbs comedy night". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Magic of Musicals with Claire Sweeney". Magic Radio. YouTube. 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Claire Sweeney's Hairspray Tussle". ITV. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Friday Night Is Music Night". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "BBC - BBC One's Scarborough marks first day of filming by revealing stars set to join the new series". BBC Media Centre. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 - What's It All About - The Cilla Black Story". BBC Radio 2. 25 December 2019.
- ^ Jeremy Joseph G-A-Y [@JeremyJoseph] (3 July 2021). "Tonight G-A-Y at @HeavenLGBTclub @veronicaqween Defying Musicals + Special Guests @clairesweeney & @SejalKeshwala - "@JamieMusical" Get £3 Entry Wrist Bands At G-A-Y Bar" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Which #Eurovision fan will be the voice of Merseyside on the big night? @kevduala surprises Paul the winner! 🪩 🕺". Twitter. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Brookside and West End star Claire Sweeney joins cast of Coronation Street". ITV. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Claire Sweeney to join 2024 Dancing on Ice line up!". ITVX. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ "Claire Sweeney is third celebrity booted off 'Dancing on Ice'". uk.movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Claire Sweeney to be patron of Children's Liver Disease Foundation". 21 December 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (30 September 2007). "Claire Sweeney splits from partner". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Buchanan, Sarah (16 June 2015). "Claire Sweeney splits from partner Daniel Reilly nine months after birth of their son". [Daily Express. Retrieved 29 January 2022.