Claire Sweeney nicks her character's 'battered trainers' as Coronation Street memento
Claire Sweeney has played Cassie Plummer in Coronation Street since 2023, but confirmed earlier this year that she’ll be bidding farewell to the cobbles - with her departure airing on the programme in the coming weeks.
Claire Sweeney has stolen the “very battered trainers” she wore in her first Coronation Street scene as a memento of her time on the soap.
The 55-year-old actress has played Cassie Plummer in the ITV show since 2023, but confirmed earlier this year that she’ll be bidding farewell to the cobbles - with her departure airing on the programme in the coming weeks.
In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Claire admitted saying goodbye to the character has been harder than she anticipated - although she’s hoping a sneaky item she swiped will serve as a fond memory of her time in the Rovers Return.
She said: “I always like to nick something from a job. When I was in the West End in Guys and Dolls, I nicked my pink frilly knickers!
“So, I’ve taken my very battered trainers from my first scene as Cassie.”
Claire made the tough call to leave Corrie after being cast as Miss Hannigan in the UK tour of the stage musical Annie.
But she said it was so tough shooting her final scenes that it was even comparable to a relationship split.
She mused: “You’re part of a family at Coronation Street, you feel safe and protected and leaving is like stepping out into the big, wide world again.
“It feels like I’ve broken up with a boyfriend I’m still in love with. I’ve loved Corrie and leaving bears no reflection on the job, the people and the work.
“It was just that my phone pinged and it was the producer of Annie saying ‘right, do you want to do Miss Hannigan.’ I’d been hounding him for years for this part and I just thought – ‘if I don’t do it now, it might never come again.’ But I think it’s the hardest job I’ve ever had to leave and my exit is very sad; I had a little weep over my leaving scenes. I got quite emotional.”
Claire concluded: “But it’s the most fantastic exit storyline, I couldn’t have wished for more.”
Claire shot to fame playing Lindsey Corkhill on the Channel 4 soap Brookside on-and-off from 1991 until 2003, before she went on to present TV programmes, take on roles in stage musicals and appear in several reality TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing.
