Claire Sweeney has confirmed that her departure from Coronation Street is imminent as she begins her new role as Miss Hannigan in the touring production of Annie this week. The actress, who plays Cassie Plummer on the ITV soap, has already filmed her final scenes, which she describes as 'explosive'.
Cassie's Arrival and Storyline
Sweeney joined the cobbles in 2023 as Cassie Plummer, a drug user who was revealed to be the long-lost mother of Tyrone Dobbs and the estranged daughter of Evelyn Plummer. Since then, Cassie has become a fixture in Weatherfield, forming relationships with her family and entering a romance with Steve McDonald.
Exit Storyline Begins
On Instagram, Sweeney shared a clip from an upcoming episode, writing: 'A little taster for next weeks Corrie, as my leaving storyline begins.' Fans expressed their sadness, with comments such as 'Don’t leave!!!' and 'You have been a joy to watch.' The exit storyline involves the introduction of Tyrone's father, played by Ian Burfield, as Cassie discovers Hope and Ruby Dobbs hiding a secret on a phone.
New Role in Annie
Sweeney takes over the role of Miss Hannigan from Strictly Come Dancing star La Voix, who debuted in the tour on May 23 in Wimbledon. The tour starts on July 7 at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff and will visit 26 venues across the UK and Ireland, including Milton Keynes, Blackpool, Newcastle, Dublin, Bristol, Nottingham, Hull, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Truro, Cheltenham, Stoke, Crawley, Belfast, Aberdeen, Woking, Bradford, Oxford, Sunderland, Southampton, Norwich, Wolverhampton, Sheffield, Glasgow, and Leicester.
Future Possibilities
While Sweeney's departure from Coronation Street is confirmed, fans have expressed hope that the door may be left open for her return. One fan commented: 'I hope it's left open-ended so you're able to return.' Sweeney has not ruled out a future comeback.
