Claire Sweeney is the Liverpool actor who played Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside and Cassie Plummer in Coronation Street, and on Monday she finally goes into the I’m a Celebrity jungle, a show she says she has wanted to do since it began 24 years ago. Here’s her age, why she left Corrie, her son and her relationship with the late Ricky Hatton.
I’m a Celeb starts Monday 16 November, 9 pm, ITV1
Claire Sweeney
Brookside’s Lindsey, Corrie’s Cassie, and now an I’m a Celeb campmate.
Who is Claire Sweeney?
Claire Sweeney is a 55-year-old actor and singer from Liverpool, best known for playing Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside and Cassie Plummer in Coronation Street.
She joined Brookside in 1991 and was one of its leading characters from 1995 until the Channel 4 soap ended in 2003. In 2001 she was runner-up to Jack Dee on the first Celebrity Big Brother, and the same year she played Roxie Hart in Chicago in the West End. She was a regular Loose Women panellist from 2003 to 2005, and has spent much of her career on stage since, from Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls to Shirley Valentine, according to her career record.
- Born on 17 April in Walton, Liverpool.
- Joins Brookside as Lindsey Corkhill.
- Runner-up on the first Celebrity Big Brother, and Roxie Hart in Chicago in the West End.
- Brookside ends. Joins Loose Women as a regular panellist until 2005.
- Her son, Jaxon, is born.
- Joins Coronation Street as Cassie Plummer.
- Third celebrity out of Dancing on Ice.
- ITV confirms she is leaving Corrie.
- Starts touring as Miss Hannigan in Annie.
- I’m a Celebrity starts, with Claire in the line-up.
Dates from her career record, ITV, GB News, Hello! and PA.
How old is Claire Sweeney?
Claire Sweeney is 55. She was born on 17 April 1971 in Walton, Liverpool.
She told ITV she is more fearful of things now that she is older.
Why did Claire Sweeney leave Coronation Street?
Claire Sweeney left Coronation Street in 2026 to play Miss Hannigan in a UK and Ireland tour of the musical Annie, a role ITV said she had long wanted to play.
ITV confirmed on 29 January that she was leaving after three years as Cassie Plummer, saying “Cassie will be on the cobbles until the summer”, GB News reported. She told Woman’s Weekly that getting the part at 52 was “a real turning point for me”.
The Annie tour started in Cardiff in July, with Claire sharing the role of Miss Hannigan with La Voix. She is taking time out from the tour for the jungle, ITV says.
Is Claire Sweeney married?
No. Claire Sweeney isn’t married. Her past partners include businessman Billy Oakes, her son’s father Daniel Reilly and the boxer Ricky Hatton.
She was with Billy Oakes for six years, until 2007.
Who is the father of Claire Sweeney’s son?
Claire Sweeney’s son, Jaxon, was born in September 2014, and his father is her former partner Daniel Reilly.
The couple had split shortly before she found out she was pregnant, got back together during the pregnancy, and separated nine months after Jaxon was born. In a joint statement they said: “Whilst we have decided not to remain together we are committed to bringing up our wonderful son”, Hello! reported in June 2015.
Did Claire Sweeney date Ricky Hatton?
Yes. Claire Sweeney and Ricky Hatton, who had been friends for years, dated for several months after they both competed on Dancing on Ice in 2024, and stayed friends after they split.
On the show, she was the third celebrity to leave, skating with a sprained rib and losing the skate-off to Lou Sanders, PA reported. She and Hatton reportedly split before Christmas 2024.
Hatton was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, in September 2025, aged 46. In her tribute she called him “my dear friend” and wrote: “Ricky, you were the people’s champ. We adored and cherished you. Love you always,” the Shropshire Star reported.
What has Claire Sweeney said about I’m a Celeb?
Claire Sweeney calls herself a superfan of I’m a Celebrity, and told ITV she has wanted to be a campmate since the show started 24 years ago.
She thinks boredom could be a problem in camp, but sees time away from her phone as a plus. “We are so addicted to our phones,” she said. “To suddenly be in an environment with no electronics and to have the time to get to know people will be lovely.”
“My dad was a butcher and he used to bring all sorts of things home. I am used to trying things.”
Claire Sweeney, speaking to ITV about the eating trials
When does I’m a Celeb 2026 start?
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! starts on Monday 16 November at 9 pm on ITV1 and ITVX, and Claire is one of the 11 campmates ITV confirmed on Tuesday 10 November.
She’ll be in camp with Wayne Rooney, Joanna Page, Ricky Wilson and Chloe Burrows, among others.