Claire Sweeney on Dancing on Ice 2024 - partner, career struggles and first soap role

The Coronation Street and Brookside star is one of twelve famous faces taking part in this year's skating competition

From starting out singing in clubs to making her name in a soap and performing in the West End - Claire Sweeney has done it all. She's now adding ice skating to her CV as one of twelve famous faces strapping on their skates in 2024.

Claire, who is currently on our screens on Coronation Street, is facing a gruelling schedule while she's in the ITV skating show. She she is still filming as Cassie while fitting in training at the rink with professional partner Colin Grafton.

But the hard-working star has no complaints, telling This Morning: "I'm just grateful to be working because this business is feast or famine and then suddenly to be in Corrie and doing Dancing on Ice, I'm just counting my blessings. You do what you gotta do."

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"I love the contrast, like I'm so rough and ready in Corrie, no make up and messy hair. So to go on Sunday night and get all glammed up in sequins and all the hair is great.

Read on to find out about her life and career.

Early life in Liverpool and Brookside

Claire was born in Walton, Liverpool in April 1971. She said she went to stage school from the age of 11 and knew she wanted to perform, starting out in working men's clubs at 14.

After early training at the the Elliott-Clarke Theatre School, she won a place at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. After stints in pantomime and working on cruise ships Claire secured her first acting job in Channel Four soap opera Brookside. She initially appeared in two episodes in 1991 and became a regular as Lindsey Corkhill from 1995.

Claire's appearances on ITV's Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes in 2000 and Channel Four's Celebrity Big Brother highlighted her talent for singing, which led to her being cast as Roxie Hart in Chicago in London's West End. It paved the way for a successful theatre career, with Claire starring in shows like Guys and Dolls, Legally Blonde, Educating Rita and numerous pantomimes.

In 2021 Claire also hosted her own radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, "Claire Sweeney Meets", which saw her interview a host of famous faces.

A proud mum

Claire is a single mum to son Jaxon, now 9, who she had with her ex-boyfriend Daniel Reillyand. She said her career decisions are now based on how to provide a stable life for Jaxon.

She shared: "Not only is Corrie the best soap for me, not only is Cassie a wonderful part, working with Maureen (Lipman) and Alan (Halsall) and all these wonderful people, the job also had stability.

"I don't know how long it will last, as I never take anything for granted in this business. But just to have that stability for a while as well, it's just come at the right time. It's not touring in a musical in a different place every week and then rushing home. I'll get my full weekends with my boy now, which is lovely."

Turning 50 and career struggles

Claire has previously admitted that she struggled when she turned 50 in 2021 and had a "wobble" before the landmark celebration.

Speaking on Loose Women, she said: 'To me, it just sounded so old. I couldn't bring myself to actually say it. Cut to my 50th birthday I just wound up embracing it... I felt the best I've felt in years.

'I've never felt better than I've felt now and that's partly due to being at home and not working so hard... Chilling with my son not being such a workaholic."

The star has also been open about the difficulties of her profession and finding work, especially while growing older. She explained: "We're in an industry that's quite ageist and [middle age] its a middle ground for an actress. Mid 40s... it's older roles... not young glamorous roles any more."

Claire has also discussed the difficulty of being in showbusiness during the Covid lockdowns. She said she was "very, very lucky" to have savings to get her through, adding: "I haven’t earned a penny really. It’s been hard but I’ve loved the quality time I’ve had with my son. That’s been a joy."

She said she lived off the money from selling her house in Mallorca in 2019, telling the the Sunday Times, "Our industry was decimated. Thankfully I'd sold a house in Spain, in 2019, so I was blessed that I could sit it out comfortably."

She added: "It was a big house in Mallorca that I'd bought in 2004 for 690,000 (£580,000). It broke my heart to sell but it was on its own grounds, and my little boy didn't want that - he wanted to be with other kids."

Joining Coronation Street

Claire joined Coronation Street in summer 2023 as Cassie, Tyrone's long-lost mum. She told Digital Spy: "I love Cassie and I hope the audience love her as much as I do. She's vulnerable, she's troubled and she's got major problems."

She said she grew up watching the soap and as a child was "obsessed" with Pat Phoenix and Bet Lynch and "never dreamed" Corrie would be an option, adding she was "so grateful" to the show's bosses for giving her the opportunity.

She added: "Honestly, I'm such a fan. I've said before that if it was Hollywood or Corrie, give me Corrie any day! Not that Hollywood was an option, but for me, it's the equivalent."

Dancing on Ice and a 'new challenge'

Claire joked during a recent appearance on This Morning that Dancing on Ice is "terrifying", admitting: "I'm clumsy at the best of times. They had a nice roast dinner on set yesterday and I'm walking back to my little dressing room and I fell over with my roast dinner. My partner's going mad, he keeps holding me up and that's not on the ice!"

On being asked to take part, she said: "I was a bit fearful, I never used to care and now I'm a bit 50 and fearful, as you get older you do get frightened of things and you don't bounce up so quick.

"But then I thought you know, I'm going to get a new challenge, I'm going to conquer my fears, get a skater's bum, lose a bit of weight - what's not to like?!"

On falling over on the ice, she said: "You have falls when you least expect it and it's not only a physical thing, it's a mental thing. So when I fall it's getting the confidence that when I come to those steps where I had the fall, trying not to freak out.

"The ice is unforgiving...but it's thrilling, when you get it and you start gliding it's the most gorgeous feeling."

Claire will be partnered with American pair skater Colin Grafton. The 32-year-old professional skater is a US junior bronze medalist and he finished eighth in the 2012 Junior World Championships.

Colin first appeared on Dancing in Ice last year, when he partnered The Vivienne.

Who else is taking part in Dancing on Ice 2024?

Other celebs taking part in Dancing on Ice 2024 Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi, former boxer Ricky Hatton, S Club singer Hannah Spearritt, West End star Amber Davies, Olympian Greg Rutherford, actors Ryan Thomas and Claire Sweeney, comedian Lou Sanders, reality star Miles Nazaire, Eastenders actor Ricky Norwood, DJ Adele Roberts and ski jumper Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards.

Returning as judges are Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse. Stephen Mulhern is now co-hosting the show with Holly Willoughby - after Philip Schofield quit all his roles with ITV last year.

Dancing on Ice is on ITV every Sunday night