Coronation Street viewers have reacted after Claire Sweeney made her highly-anticipated debut on the soap. ITV bosses announced the Brookside star would be joining the cast as Weatherfield mechanic Tyrone Dobbs' mother and Evelyn Plummer's daughter earlier this year.
During the hour-long instalment on Wednesday, June 28, Claire's character, whose name is Cassandra Plummer, turned up on the cobbles out of the blue. However Evelyn later received a call and was told her daughter had been admitted to the hospital in an emergency following a drug overdose and the pair came face to face.
Powerful scenes unfolded as Cassie told her mum she'd learned that she was living with her son Tyrone despite believing Evelyn had left him at a police station in 1982 after she'd given birth to him at the age of 16. Evelyn then explained that Tyrone believes Cassie is dead after her daughter threatens to get back in touch with him.
"I want to get better," Cassie then pleaded with her mum as she goes to leave. "I will get better if you help me."
"I've tried so many times," an emotional Evelyn responded. "And every time you let me down don't you? You swear, you promise, you cross your heart. It's not going to be different is it? I'll give you a chance and then you'll steal from me and lie about using.
"I'm 77, I don't have the energy for this. I'm not walking the streets again looking for you, my heart won't take it."
Cassie then told Evelyn she loved her. "If you do stay away," her mother responds as she tries to protect her grandson. "Get help, get support, get clean but stay away from Tyrone," she pleaded. "Don't mess up his life the way you've messed up yours. Please just stay away."
Many viewers at home praised the emotional scenes as Claire made her Cassie debut. "My God, such powerful scenes with Maureen Lipman and Claire Sweeney," wrote one.
Another added: "Claire Sweeney and Maureen Lipman this is what we need... the acting superb!" And a third commented: "What a fantastic scene between Maureen Lipman and Claire Sweeney."
One fan chipped in: "Well done @itvcorrie. Tonight's episode, top marks. The introduction of @clairesweeney is brilliant a great addition to the fabulous @maureenlipman. Wonderful acting."
"Well @clairesweeney played a blinder in her first speaking scene in #corrie tonight," said one. "Loved her interaction with Maureen Lipman. Genius casting."
For those that need a quick trip down memory lane Tyrone grew up believing that his mum was Jackie Dobbs, played by Margi Clarke, but in 2018 investigations into his parentage brought him into contact with Evelyn for the first time and he discovered evidence that Evelyn's daughter Cassandra was his biological mother.
Not trusting Cassandra to look after him properly due to her drug habit, Evelyn had abandoned Tyrone at a police station in 1982 where he was found by Jackie who brought him up as her own. Cassie's arrival leaves Evelyn facing a real dilemma as she has to decide whether to come clean to Tyrone about her lies. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
