Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney is leaving the ITV soap after three years to return to musical theatre. The 54-year-old actress, who plays Cassie Plummer, has been cast as Miss Hannigan in the UK tour of the musical Annie, which begins in 2026.
Sweeney will alternate the role with La Voix, the drag queen and Strictly Come Dancing star who was previously announced for the part. The tour opens on 23 May 2025 at the New Wimbledon Theatre, with Sweeney joining the production from 7 July in Cardiff.
Cassie Plummer was introduced as the long-lost mother of Tyrone Dobbs and has since formed a relationship with Steve McDonald. A Coronation Street spokesperson confirmed: '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.'
The actress, who previously appeared in Brookside and Celebrity Big Brother, has extensive stage experience, having starred in Chicago, Tell Me On A Sunday, 9 to 5, Hairspray and Legally Blonde. Her new role as the villainous orphanage proprietress is one she has long wanted to play.
Annie, based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie, features classic songs such as Tomorrow and It's A Hard Knock Life. The role of Miss Hannigan was famously played by Carol Burnett in the 1982 film adaptation and by Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage in the 1998 West End revival.
