Claire Sweeney “never dreamed” she would land a part in ‘Coronation Street’.

Claire Sweeney never dreamed she would be cast in Coronation Street

Claire Sweeney never dreamed she would be cast in Coronation Street

The 52-year-old actress - who shot to fame when she took on the part of Lindsey Corkhill on 'Brookside in the early 1990s before going on to appear in West End shows like ‘Chicago’ and ‘9 to 5’ - has now joined the cast of the long-running ITV1 soap opera as the long-lost mother of established character Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) and explained that she is “so grateful” to bosses of the show for giving her a chance because she wanted to get back on screen.

She said: “I’ve spent the last few years doing little bits - a little bit on ‘Benidorm’, ‘Scarborough’, a drama I filmed last year, not massive parts, but wanting to get back and do some really great acting.

“I never dreamed 'Corrie'. Iain [Macleod, Corrie executive producer] has given me a chance.

“It just takes that one person to believe in you and go 'yeah, you can do it. Give her a chance.' And I'm so grateful for that.”

The former ‘Loose Women star – who will make her first appearance as Cassandra Plummer in scenes set to be aired on 28 June - is mother to eight-year-old Jaxon with former partner Daniel Reilly and went on to add that landing a job on ‘Coronation Street’ also serves as a form of “stability” and will “never take anything for granted” in the precarious world of show business.

She added: “I’m a single mum, to my eight year old son Jackson and my decisions are not only based on the love of what I do, they are based on stability for me and my son.

“I’m 52 years of age now and for this, not only is it the best soap for me, not only is she a wonderful part, working with Maureen [Lipman] and Alan and all these wonderful people, the had for stability.

“I don't know how long it will last. I never take anything for granted in this business. But just to have that stability for a while as well. It's just come at the right time as well.

“I'll get my full weekends with my boy now, which is lovely.”

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