Claire Sweeney, known for her role as Cassie Plummer on ITV's Coronation Street, has received an outpouring of support from fans after teasing her upcoming exit storyline. The 55-year-old actress, who joined the soap in 2023, shared a clip on Instagram showing her character proposing to Steve McDonald, played by Simon Gregson, in the cab office.
Exit Storyline Details
The video reveals that Cassie drops to one knee in the cab office, making a bold move to propose. Additionally, the storyline will see Tyrone's daughters, Hope and Ruby, discover the identity of Tyrone's biological father. Sweeney captioned the post: "A little taster for next week's Corrie, as my leaving storyline begins."
Fans quickly flooded the comments with support. One wrote: "You've been absolutely brilliant." Another said: "Ahh you're going to be missed so much." A third added: "Don’t leave!!! Have loved Cassie’s verbal sparring with, well, pretty much everyone. She will be missed!" A fourth fan commented: "You have been a joy to watch on Corrie. Make sure you come back in the future."
Claire Sweeney's Time on the Cobbles
Sweeney, originally from Liverpool, has been a fan-favourite since her debut in 2023. She has been central to major storylines, including repairing Cassie's estranged relationship with her son Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall), becoming Ken Barlow's (William Roache) carer, and pursuing a relationship with Steve McDonald. She also starred in the explosive Corriedale crossover episode earlier this year. Her decision to leave the soap was announced in January 2026, with her final scenes airing over the coming weeks.
New Role in Annie Stage Tour
Sweeney is preparing to take on the role of Miss Hannigan in the UK stage tour of Annie, replacing Strictly Come Dancing's La Voix. The West End production will visit the Liverpool Empire in September 2026, and Sweeney expressed her excitement in an Instagram post: "Liverpool I'm coming home. I'm delighted to be playing Miss Hannigan in Annie, the smash hit musical. We're coming to the Empire theatre in September so you better buy your tickets."
Following the announcement of her Coronation Street exit, an ITV spokesperson told the ECHO: "We wish Claire every success playing Miss Hannigan and congratulate her on being offered a role she has long wanted to play. Cassie will be on the cobbles until the summer during which time she will continue to make her presence felt in Weatherfield leading up to a great exit storyline."
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
