Dorin, Ruby, Cassie and Hope on Coronation Street on August 3, 2026 / ITV
Claire Sweeney has praised the Coronation Street writers for giving her a “beautiful” and “poignant” exit from the soap.
The actress departs the cobbles next week after three years playing Cassie Plummer, the biological mother of Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall).
Cassie says goodbye to her family and leaves Weatherfield for life anew following the arrival of Tyrone’s troublesome dad Ross (Ian Kershaw) and the end of her relationship with Steve (Simon Gregson).
“I couldn’t believe the quality of the writing they gave me for the end; it was beautiful,” said Sweeney. “And Ross is played by Ian, who is just a brilliant actor.
“The scenes we shot were so poignant. There was one specific scene at the end, saying goodbye to Hope and Ruby in the Dobbs house, where I literally sobbed. The tears were completely real.
“At one point, the director even asked me to hold back a little bit because it looked like I was having a breakdown on camera, but that was just how it felt. It was so genuine that the children started crying during the take, too. It was incredibly emotional.”
Reflecting on her time on Corrie, she continued: “It’s been an absolute joy. I’ve been blessed with brilliant, multifaceted storylines from start to finish. I went from being a ‘baddie’ to someone who softened, particularly with Steve, who really brought out her vulnerability and honesty.
“I loved the comedy, the motherly instincts she developed with Tyrone, and the wonderful, forgiving friendship she had with Ken. Even the comedic elements of living with Tracy and Steve—the scripts were just brilliant. I’ve been so lucky.”
New episodes of Coronation Street are released weekdays at 7am on ITVX and air the same night at 8.30pm on ITV1.
Picture Spoilers: Next week on Coronation Street (August 3-6)
