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Claire Sweeney lifts lid on emotional Coronation Street exit and getting "Scoused up" on County Road

The soap star spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview about her exit from the ITV show, getting "Scoused up" on County Road and her new role as Miss Hannigan in Annie

[Claire Sweeney spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview]

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Claire Sweeney spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

For Claire Sweeney, her return to the Liverpool Empire stage to star in Annie will represent a full circle moment. Watching Blood Brothers at the famous theatre as a child ignited the soap star's love for musicals.

She has turned that passion into a successful acting career with roles in Coronation Street, Brookside and a wide variety of theatre productions to her name. But Claire never takes the buzz of performing for granted as she told the ECHO in an exclusive interview why starring as Miss Hannigan in the iconic show, at the place where it all started for her, is going to be particularly emotional.

The 55-year-old said: "[Playing Miss Hannigan] has been a box I've wanted to tick for a long time. To get a chance to play her is a dream role, especially coming to the Empire as well.

"I feel very lucky. There's comedy in it, there's tragedy in it and you get a belter of a song. The show in itself is wonderful. It's such a fabulous production. It's like the perfect musical.

"There's kids. There's a dog. There's belting tunes. The first half is just over an hour. The second half is just over 45 minutes. It's perfect in every way."

Claire joined the tour a few weeks ago and has been thrilled by the response from audiences in places such as Cardiff and Milton Keynes so far. However, she can't wait to perform the show in front of her home audience when it runs at the Empire from September 22 - 26.

She said: "Scousers are always very vocal and know how to enjoy themselves. You can't help but enjoy yourself [with Annie]. It's marvellous."

The appetite for life that characterises the Scouse identity is something Claire credits with giving her the tools to build a successful career in a notoriously tough industry. She said: "There's a real sense of humour to the people in Liverpool. People have the ability to laugh in the face of adversity.

"Have the ability to be very honest and straight with you. We're very transparent people. Open, honest, funny, warm and welcoming."

Claire grew up in Carisbrooke Road, in Walton, and remains deeply connected to her home neighbourhood where she'll be heading next week to get show ready ahead of performances in Blackpool. She added: "I'm going to get Scoused up again. I'm going to get my nails, lashes and all my stuff done.

"I still go to County Road to get my hair done in Zest. I get my lashes done on County Road. I get my nails done in the Nail Bar in town. I love coming home." Claire divides her time between Liverpool and London but has spent the majority of her time in her home city since she joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2023.

Claire has been a hit with fans since she arrived on the show as Tyrone Dobbs' estranged mum, Cassandra Plummer. She has been part of key storylines such as poisoning Ken Barlow and battling Tracy Barlow to win the heart of Steve McDonald.

[Claire Sweeney as Miss Hannigan in Annie]

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Claire Sweeney as Miss Hannigan in Annie(Image: Gloucestershire Echo & Gloucester Citizen)

The role in Annie means Claire has bid a sad farewell to the Cobbles as her character will exit the ITV soap in the next two weeks. Claire admitted it was difficult to quit Corrie saying: "I laughed everyday with Alan Halsall, Simon Gregson and Kate Ford, little Ellie Mulvaney.

"Getting to work so closely with Bill Roache was a dream job. It hasn't quite hit me that I've left. I miss it and I love it. But I'm loving Annie as well."

Claire has already filmed her final scenes and she revealed the crew surprised her with a heartwarming gesture on her last day on set. She said: "It was very emotional. I didn't expect them to come on set with flowers and make a little presentation to me. I didn't expect that and it was very lovely."

Corrie remains close to Claire's heart as she keeps in touch with Tracy Barlow star, Kate Ford, and Alan Halsall, who played her onscreen son. Although she has already moved onto the next chapter with Annie, she expects it to be emotional when she tunes in to watch Cassie's Cobbles farewell when it broadcasts early next month.

She said: "I think it will hit me then so I don't know how it feels. I've loved it. It's one of the happiest jobs I've ever done." Corrie isn't the only soap that Claire is famous for as she shot to stardom with her role as Lindsay Corkhill in Brookside.

The cast of the Liverpool set show reunited for a special party in January and Claire backed calls for a full scale reboot after the success of last year's crossover episode with Hollyoaks. She said: "I'd support it for sure. People loved it and the excitement when it was coming back was brilliant. There's so much going on in Liverpool. Brookside is definitely missed but there's so much going on, so much regeneration.

"It was brilliant seeing everyone [at the reunion party]. Good on Phil Olivier and Suzanne Collins for organising it. [Late Jimmy Corkhill star] Dean Sullivan was so really missed."

[Claire Sweeney on board The Daffodil at a Brookside reunion party earlier this year]

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Claire Sweeney on board The Daffodil at a Brookside reunion party earlier this year(Image: Liverpool Echo)

While a return to Corrie or Brookside could be on the cards for Claire at some point in the future, the actor is firmly focused on Annie at the moment as she revealed one of her heroes will be in the crowd in Blackpool next week.

She said: "I've got Peter Reid coming to see the show next week. I was loving it that he was on Downing Street with Andy [Burnham]. I was so made up when I saw Peter there." Claire is an Evertonian and she is excited to see a fellow Toffee in the most powerful position in the country.

She said: "I think it's wonderful and I think it's exciting times ahead. I think he's brilliant." Claire is positive about what the future will bring in her own career too as she continues to live out the dream that started all those years ago in the crowd at the Liverpool Empire.

She said: "That place has so many memories for me. Wonderful memories. It's home. After I just had [my son] Jaxon, I did panto at the Empire [later that year]. A couple of the front of house girls got him a present that he could lie on in my dressing room.

"They used to help me look after him and that's the Empire for you. Everyone comes together and helps each other."

Annie is coming to the Liverpool Empire from September 22 - 26. You can find details of how to get tickets here

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