Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney ‘heartbroken’ as she shares emotional update after saying final goodbye

Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney ‘heartbroken’ as she shares emotional update after saying final goodbye

She shared an update on social media after saying a final goodbye to The Vivienne following their devastating death earlier this month

Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney shared an emotional update after saying a final goodbye to The Vivienne following their devastating death earlier this month.

The actress was among those paying their respects at the service for James Lee Williams, who died earlier this month aged 32, was held at a church in Denbighshire, north Wales, on Monday (January 27).

Williams, known best as The Vivienne, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and placed third in ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2023. During their career, The Vivienne also competed on an all-winners season of the RuPaul franchise in the US in 2022, the only UK contestant for that series.

Williams, who was born in Wales, adopted their drag name as they were known for wearing Vivienne Westwood clothing. They also starred in BBC Three show The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood in 2020, and appeared on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted For Stand Up To Cancer in 2022.

They performed as the Wicked Witch of the West in a UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical and reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year. They were due to be back on tour next month performing in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical in the role of the Childcatcher.

Claire paid her respects at the funeral of The Vivienne (Image: PA)

Claire attended the funeral alongside Steps singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins, former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall, comedian Jayde Adams, and fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz and Cheryl.

On Tuesday morning (January 28), Claire was seemingly reflecting on their heartbreaking loss as she reshared a picture of The Vivenne to her Instagram Story alongside a string of broken heart emojis.

The post Claire reshared was hers from when Williams’ shock death was announced. The soap star, who worked with The Vivenne on Dancing On Ice in early 2024, said at the time: “A beautiful person inside and out. RIP The Vivienne.”

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