Claire Sweeney: Everything You Need to Know About the Soap Star
Over the years Claire Sweeney has become a much-loved household name. In April 2024, Central Recorder revealed how the soap star is now dating boxer Ricky Hatton after the pair were spotted enjoying cosy dates.
Who is Claire Sweeney?
Born on April 17, 1971, Claire Sweeney is an actress and singer from Liverpool. Her big break came when she joined the cast of Brookside in 1989. In 2001, she appeared in the first series of Celebrity Big Brother alongside Jack Dee, who won the show, as well as Anthea Turner, Vanessa Feltz, Chris Eubank and Keith Duffy. The show, which was in aid of Comic Relief, ran for eight days, and Claire came in second place. The popular star was also a regular on Loose Women from 2003 until 2005. In 2004, she appeared in the first series of Strictly Come Dancing and finished in fifth place out of eight contestants. In January 2024, Claire took part in Dancing On Ice and was partnered with pro skater Colin Grafton. The pair were eliminated from the show in week four.
Is Claire Sweeney in a relationship?
In April 2024, Central Recorder exclusively revealed how Claire has enjoyed a string of dates with boxer Ricky Hatton. The pair met when they both competed in Dancing On Ice. Since then, they have been spotted out together in Liverpool and Manchester. A source said: “They became friends on Dancing On Ice and really hit it off. It’s since become romantic and they’ve enjoyed a few dates. It’s early days but they’ve got a spark and have been having a great time.”
How many kids does Claire Sweeney have?
Claire is a mum-of-one to her son Jaxon, who was born on September 29, 2014. Speaking to OK! Magazine about her boy, the proud mother said: “He just makes me laugh so much. He gives me so much affection and love. He’s such a sensitive kid.” Claire split from Jaxon’s dad Daniel Reilly in 2015.
What was Claire Sweeney’s role in Brookside?
Claire played Lindsay Corkill for ten years from 1989. She then left the show and worked as a singer on P&O cruise ships for four years before returning to the UK. She reprised her role in Brookside and stayed on as Lindsay until 2003 when the show was axed by Channel 4.
When did Claire Sweeney join Coronation Street?
Soap fans were thrilled when Claire joined Coronation Street in June 2023. In the much-loved show, she plays Tyrone Dobbs’ mother, Cassie Plummer. Speaking about playing Cassie and joining Corrie, the actress said in a statement at the time: “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!”
Has Claire Sweeney left Coronation Street?
In early 2024, Coronation Street fans were left concerned that Claire Sweeney had left the soap. The actress was only absent for a short time as she was training for Dancing On Ice. Addressing the rumours at the time, Claire said she had no plans to leave the soap. She told the Radio Times: “I love Corrie and Corrie is just as important to me.”
Timeline of Claire Sweeney’s rise to fame
The in-demand star was then snapped up by Loose Women and was a panellist on the show from 2003 until 2005. The talented star switched from the screen to the stage and headed for the West End in the early noughties. From 2001 to 2012, Claire appeared in theatre shows like Chicago, Educating Rita, and Legally Blonde. The much-loved star played a ‘no-nonsense’ ground crew worker at the airport of the Spanish resort in the last ever episode of ITV’s Benidorm, which aired in May 2018. In 2023, Claire headed back to her soapland roots and bagged a role in Coronation Street. Claire’s other big roles include Candy Cabs (2011), Scarborough (2019), and The Good Ship Murder (2023).