It’s no secret that Claire Sweeney is leaving Coronation Street, meaning that her character Cassie Plummer’s exit is imminent.
ITV confirmed earlier this year that the actress would be leaving the cobbles for good after nearly three years.
Initial storylines saw Cassie recover from her drug addiction after being revealed as Tyrone Dobbs’s (Alan Halsall) birth mother.
She quickly became the street’s latest villain when stalwart Ken Barlow (William Roache) realised that she was drugging him so that he would retain her services as his carer. Surprisingly, she later settled down with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson).
Now, Sweeney will be leaving the show to join the cast of the UK and Ireland tour of Annie to play Miss Hannigan.
Claire Sweeney as Cassie Plummer and Simon Gregson as Steve McDonald. ITV
A Coronation Street spokesperson told Radio Times: “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.”
In today’s instalment, Cassie was saddened that her proposal to Steve earlier in the week hadn’t gone as smoothly as she’d hoped. Not only did she put her back out while getting down on one knee, but his ex-wife Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) was listening in.
Along the road, Steve reassured Ken and Tracy that he was still committed to Cassie and that he wanted to try to patch things up. Tracy, however, found much hilarity in the fact if he had married Cassie, he’d be onto his sixth wife and eighth wedding.
When a delivery arrived at her florist’s, Preston’s Petals, Steve offered some help. He’d previously told Cassie that whether she liked it or not, Tracy would always play a part in his life – something which she didn’t take too kindly to.
Claire Sweeney as Cassie Plummer and Ian Burfield as Ross Wilkes. ITV
After spotting them together, Cassie made her way over to the Chariot Square Hotel to drown her sorrows. She began knocking back the vodka when a man (Ian Burfield) approached the bar, and she invited him to join her.
Despite spending the afternoon together, the man explained that he wasn’t prepared to head up to her room to continue their drinking. He accused her of being a sex worker, and made his way to his own quarters.
She was disheartened, but upon checking the bill, noticed a name she recognised – Ross Wilkes.
Spoilers for this week show that this mystery fella will be revealed to be Tyrone’s birth father. Why didn’t they recognise each other, and what’s their history?
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Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 or can be streamed from 7am on ITVX.
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