Coronation Street star 'taking break' from soap as they join rival channel

Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney is set to take a brief hiatus from the show as she embarks on an exciting new project with Channel 5's thrilling murder-mystery series, The Good Ship Murder. Claire, known for her portrayal of Cassie Plummer, will be absent from the soap for about a week to join former Corrie stars Catherine Tyldesley and Shayne Ward in the sun-drenched Mediterranean.

The upcoming series is expected to deliver even more gripping storylines, featuring Shayne as the charismatic entertainer-turned-detective Jack Grayling and Catherine as the resolute First Officer Kate Woods.

Returning to her role as Cruise Director Beverley Carnell, Claire will be joined by Hollyoaks' Ross Adams, who steps in as newcomer Colin Smallwood. With the first season attracting an average of 2.1 million viewers, the sequel is eagerly awaited and will include several guest appearances.

A Corrie insider confirmed to The Sun that Claire's temporary departure is well-coordinated: "Claire's taking a short break from Corrie to film," and clarified that "it's a matter of days and won't affect anything on the cobbles. Everything has been arranged so there will be no on-screen disruption."

In a heartfelt chat with Cheshire Life, Claire excitedly revealed her continued commitment to Coronation Street, stating: "I've just signed my contract for another year in Corrie and I'm really happy to fully invest all my time and energy into Cassie and see what develops," reports the Express.

She expressed her delight over recent acting opportunities, saying: "I couldn't be happier about the acting scenes I have done recently in Coronation Street with Dame Maureen Lipman in the Rovers and with Alan Halsall and Jennie McAlpine in the Dobbs household."

Reflecting on her early days on the show, she recalled: "When I first came into Corrie, I did a 14-page scene with Maureen while my character was in hospital. Playing opposite such a phenomenal actor was a dream come true. The writing and direction for that episode was amazing. That is definitely one of my highlights."

Claire's personal life is also thriving. At 53, she has found love with boxer Ricky Hatton during their stint on ITV's Dancing on Ice.

Despite Ricky being the first to leave the show, he captured something much more significant. Following their public debut as a couple at the grand opening of the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, Claire and Ricky escaped to Tenerife for a romantic getaway. There, they enjoyed evenings out and happily engaged with fans.

The couple also spent quality time with friends watching a Manchester City game at The Beach Cabin pub. Fans have been showing their affection for the fresh pairing, with one supporter noting: "You look good together", while another enthused: "You and Claire are the best match ever. " A thrilled follower even shared: "Oh I just adore Claire Sweeney, aww cute couple."