Claire Sweeney’s entertainment company had just £756 in it when she joined Coronation Street last year.
The soap star, 53, who is best known for her role in Brookside, has played homeless drug addict Cassandra Plummer on the ITV soap since June 2023, after taking a long break from acting.
Claire runs a company called Westmoreland Entertainments Ltd, and books filed to Companies House earlier this year show that the company was running low on cash at the time she landed the money-spinning role.
The figures for the 12 months prior to May 2023 show cash deposits of £53,955, but with creditors like the tax office and other bills to pay, the firm had a bottom line of just £756. It was previously at £15,202 in 2022.
MailOnline has contacted Claire’s representatives for comment.
Claire Sweeney’s entertainment company reportedly had just £756 in it when she joined Coronation Street last year
The soap star, 53, who is best known for her role in Brookside, has played homeless drug addict Cassandra Plummer on the ITV soap since June 2023, after taking a long break from acting
It comes after it was revealed Claire is taking a break from her role on Coronation Street just weeks after signing a new contract to film another television show, it has been reported.
The actress and singer made her debut as Cassie, the drug-addicted mother of established character Tyrone Dobbs, in June last year.
Cassie was a hit with fans who particularly took delight in her driving her poor mother Evelyn Plummer (Maureen Lipman) up the wall with her antics.
But fans need not worry about Claire’s break as it will only be for a week as she films the second series of The Good Ship Murder.
Claire is reprising her role as entertainment manager Beverley Carnell in Channel 5 murder-mystery series.
The series is led Catherine Tyldesley and Shayne Ward who not only previously appeared in Corrie, they also played a couple.
Catherine, 40, and Shayne, 39, portrayed Eva Price and Aidan Connor on Coronation Street for seven and three years respectively.
The Good Ship Murder folllows former police detective Jack Grayling (Shayne) as he finds his old life intruding on his job as a cruise ship singer, when murders begin happening onboard .
With the help of the ship’s First Officer, Kate Woods (Catherine), Jack solves a series of unusual mysteries, against the sunny backdrop of the Mediterranean.
Claire runs a company called Westmoreland Entertainments Ltd, and books filed to Companies House earlier this year show that the company was running low on cash at the time she landed the money-spinning role
Claire is taking the break to reprise her role as entertainment manager Beverley Carnell in Channel 5 murder mystery series The Good Ship Murder
Each episode ends with Jack performing a song in the ship’s cabaret lounge,
The Good Ship Murder also stars Geoffrey Breton who has appeared in Doctors, Hollyoaks Later, and The Crown.
The programme has been renewed for a third series and as well as a Christmas special, Channel 5 confirmed in April.
A source told The Sun: ‘Claire’s taking a short break from Corrie to film. 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.
It comes after Claire told Cheshire Life: ‘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.
‘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.
‘When I first came in to 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 is currently in a relationship with former professional boxer Ricky Hatton.
The couple recently returned from a sun-soaked Tenerife getaway – just weeks after they made their red carpet debut in Manchester.
When was asked by The Sun how their holiday went, Ricky replied: ‘It was great! Claire is like me, I’ve met someone who I get on with like a house on fire.
‘She is just like me. We spend our whole time laughing together. Claire is just like me – she’s so down to earth.
Claire is currently in a relationship with former professional boxer Ricky Hatton and the two recently enjoyed a trip to Tenerife
‘She would never turn a picture down with a fan and she’s always got time for people. That’s what I really like about her. We’ve just been having good fun.’
An insider revealed recently that Claire is planning to introduce Ricky to her family, including her nine-year-old son Jaxon, whom she shares with her ex-partner Daniel Reilly.
A source told MailOnline: ‘Claire and Ricky have become really close. She wasn’t looking for a relationship but then Ricky came along and it just felt right and natural and she’s really happy.
‘She signed up for a reality TV show and met a great guy so it feels a bit like winning the lottery, and she’s really counting her blessings as it all came from nowhere and often that’s the best way.
‘She’s now really looking forward to introducing Ricky to her family and friends soon and they are really looking forward to the guy who has put a smile on Claire’s face.’
