Emotional Claire Sweeney reveals she broke down in tears filming final Corrie scenes as she prepares to leave soap

CLAIRE SWEENEY’s final Coronation Street scenes were so emotional the director stopped filming so she could take a breather, the actress has revealed. Claire has played Tyrone’s mum Cassie Plummer for three years but is leaving to play Miss Hannigan in a UK theatre tour of Annie. Claire Sweeney was so emotional filming her final Coronation Street scenes that she had to stop and take a breather Credit: ITV Claire played Tyrone’s mum Cassie Plummer for three yearsCredit: Refer to source Recalling filming a scene involving Tyrone’s kids, she said: “Saying goodbye to Hope and Ruby, I sobbed. The tears were real. “At one point, the director even asked me to hold back a bit because it looked like I was having a breakdown. Sign up for the Coronation Street newsletter Thank you! “The children started crying too.” She added: “ I only left because a project I’ve been working toward for 15 years finally came to fruition, and I simply couldn’t turn it down.” READ MORE ON CORONATION STREET The Sun revealed in January that Claire had quit the soap after landing the theatre role she has always wanted to play. Claire previously praised Corrie for putting her back on TV. Speaking last year she said: “I’ve done brilliant things in my life and in my career, and I’m grateful and thankful.’ “But when I got into Corrie at the age of 52, it was a lovely, lovely surprise and a real turning point for me. Most read in TV “When I was younger, I wouldn’t think, ‘This is fabulous.’ It would be, ‘What’s next?’ “But with Corrie, I’m so appreciating it and I’m staying in the moment.” DETECTIVE MICHELLE COPS OFF Michelle Keegan plays detective DI Emma Crane in gritty ITV thriller The Blame MICHELLE Keegan is not looking her usual glamorous self in these new images of upcoming drama The Blame. The former Coronation Street and Brassic star is dressed down to play detective DI Emma Crane in the gritty ITV thriller. She appears alongside hunky actor and model Douglas Booth, who plays her colleague, DI Tom Radley. Together, they investigate a shocking case – and also happen to be having a passionate fling. But that is just one of the multiple twists and complications in the dark story. The six-parter starts this autumn on ITV. THE ONLY WAY IS ALBANIA The Only Way Is Essex returns for its 38th series on Sunday at 9pm YOU can always depend on The Only Way Is Essex to bring the drama. Expect explosive returns, fresh feuds and new romances as the ITV2 show returns for its 38th run. The 12-part series, which starts on Sunday at 9pm, sees the perfectly preened bunch abandon their usual haunts for a jaunt to Albania. There, the gang get together for Junaid Ahmed and Joe Blackman’s engagement party. And Lauren Goodger says she got sucked into conflict, even though she tried to keep out of it. “Very eventful,” she teased. “I don’t come for the drama, but I’m involved. Drama, unfortunately – it happens in Essex! We are all genuine friends. There’s fallouts, there’s make-ups, there’s tears. I can’t wait to see it all because I’m very heavily involved this series.” SLEUTHING SU SU Pollard has filmed a special guest stint for the next series of The Madame Blanc Mysteries. The Channel 5 show, which stars Sally Lindsay as antique dealer and sleuth Jean White, has just finished recording its fifth season in Malta. Bosses wanted a number of guest actors and thought Hi-de-Hi! star Su would be a great surprise for viewers. A source said: “Su is one of those actresses that just brings a unique energy and magic to any role she takes on. “The cast and crew loved having her on set and everyone is really excited for her episode to air. She steals every scene she is in.” The series will air later this year with other guest stars expected to appear. It will focus on Jean planning her wedding to fiancé Dom Hayes, played by Steve Edge. ROB’S RETURN ROB Rinder is back next month with his fascinating historical series Rich Lives, Poor Lives. Joined by Ruth Goodman once again, he discovers how some of the UK’s most famous events – from Roman emperor Hadrian’s visit to Britain, to the Railway mania of the 1840s – were experienced by different classes. Rob says: “You begin watching people in Roman Britain or Georgian London and before long you realise they’re arguing about things we still argue about today. “Housing, work, inequality, aspiration, who gets ahead and why. Human nature changes rather less quickly than technology. “The costumes are different but many of the conversations feel astonishingly familiar.” The first episode drops on August 4 at 9pm on Channel 5. THE first heat for Celebrity MasterChef will star Olympic medallist Emily Campbell, TV and radio presenter Jason Mohammad, The Wanted singer JAY McGuinness, comedian Joe Pasquale and Love Islander Shakira Khan. The series is due to air this summer on BBC One. FRANK SKINNER brings his critically acclaimed show 30 Years Of Dirt to Sky and Now on Friday, August 14. Following its debut in 2023, the hit show toured nationwide, selling out 85 performances across the UK, including three West End runs. The TV stand-up special was filmed in front of an audience at Soho Theatre, Wal­thamstow, East London. Comment now