Walton-born Claire will be at the forefront of a huge storyline
Claire Sweeney joined Coronation Street in 2023, playing the role of Tyrone’s mum Cassie Plummer. The Walton-born actress has been a fan favourite since appearing on the cobbles but things may me about to change.
On Monday night, viewers were shocked when Cassie Plummer was seen lacing soap icon Ken Barlow’s tea with crushed tablets. The pair have built a close friendship since she became his carer earlier this year, amid his struggles with mobility.
Things are set to take a dramatic turn on Wednesday’s (November 20) episode when Ken is taken to hospital with Cassie’s actions at risk of being exposed. Claire said she was shocked when she found out her character would be responsible for poisoning one of the cobble’s biggest legends. The actress fears she will be “public enemy No 1” with viewers hating her character.
As the storyline takes a dark turn, Claire said: “We [Bill Roache] were both a bit shocked and it sounds awful that I’m poisoning him, but she just wants him to need her. She wants to keep her job and she loves being with him.”
Bill Roache has been playing Ken Barlow on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street since its first episode on December 9, 1960, making him the longest-serving actor in the show’s history.
Upon finding out her likeable character would show a sinister side, Claire was ‘shocked’ and told Coronation Street producers: “What? Did I hear that right?”
Cassie initially put painkillers and blood thinners in Ken’s tea, Claire believes Cassie: “doesn’t want to hurt him – she just wants him to need her. She adores Ken. The two of them find these moments of absolute affection with each other. They love being with each other.”
The 53-year-old links Cassie’s carer job being at risk with the anger built up inside of her. She added: “he can’t afford to keep her on she’s devastated – where’s she going to go, what’s she going to do, who is she going to be with? There’s an anger and a hurt and a feeling of abandonment. It’s not even necessarily money-orientated, she likes the life she’s got looking after him.”
Ken Barlow is rushed to hospital after being poisoned by Cassie, played by Claire Sweeney(Image: ITV)
When Ken falls ill in hospital fans will see Cassie full of remorse as she “never wanted to hurt him” although she has gone too far. Talking about her on-screen character, Claire reveals there is an “element of guilt – she does question herself”. Although, that doesn’t seem to stop Cassie as she googles drugs that make you drowsy and switches to antihistamines which will help keep Ken a little drowsy.
The mum-of-one shared she was ‘grateful’ for the opportunity to be involved in such a big storyline. And questioned on whether the storyline could signal the end of her time on the cobbles, she responded “It does cross your mind. When I got this job, if you’d have told me that a year and a half later, I’d be here having a big storyline with Bill Roache, I’d have been so grateful for that.
“In my time in Corrie, I’ve had big scenes with Maureen Lipman, a big storyline with Bill Roache, I’ve got to snog Steve McDonald and have a cat fight with Tracy. What more could I want? So, if this does signal the end, I’d go – well hasn’t that been great, I’ve been blessed.”
