Claire Sweeney
Encyclopedia
Claire Jane Sweeney is an English
actress, singer and television personality
best known for playing the role of Lindsey Corkhill
in the Channel 4
soap opera
Brookside
and her appearance on the first series of the Reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother.
, Liverpool
. She trained at the Elliott-Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool, and went on to the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London
. Her first singing gig, at the age of 14, was in the Montrose Club in Liverpool. In 1987, she was a member of the Southport Summer Youth Theatre Workshop's production of the musical Hair
. Following this production, she auditioned for a part in the Southport Arts Centre's Centre Stage Company production of Chicago
but was turned down because she was considered too young - she later went on to star in a West End version of the same show.
in 1991. She entertained cruise ship
s for P&O
as a singer for four years before returning to England
. On her return, Sweeney reprised her role of Lindsey and remained on the show as a leading character until its demise in 2003.
Sweeney appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2001 in aid of Comic Relief, where she met Anthea Turner
who has become a close friend. Her appearance on the show prompted her to greater fame amongst the British
public. This directly led to appearing as "Roxie Hart" in the musical Chicago
in London
. In 2002, Sweeney released an album, Claire on Telstar Records
. This consisted of a mix of original material and cover version
s of well-known songs, which peaked at #15 in the UK Albums Chart
in July 2002. In 2003, Sweeney returned to the stage in the lead in the world tour of Fosse
.
Sweeney then took a regular place on the panel of ITV's relaunched Loose Women
from 2003–2005, but left to pursue her stage career.
In 2005 and 2006, Sweeney appeared in Pantomime
productions of Snow White
and Aladdin
at Theatre Royal, Nottingham
. On 10 July 2006, Sweeney took over from Sally Ann Triplett
in the role of "Miss Adelaide" in the UK production of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre
in London's West End
for an 8 week run. Sweeney also played opposite Dirty Dancing
legend Patrick Swayze
before touring the UK extensively in the same production.
She has also presented a number of shows, such as Challenge of a Lifetime
, I'm famous...and frightened!, A Song for Europe
and 60 Minute Makeover
and acted in Television
programmes such as Merseybeat
and Clocking Off
. In 2004, Sweeney appeared as a contestant on the first series of the BBC One
pro-celebrity ballroom dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing
. She has most recently been seen as the host of the television series Chef vs Britain and as a regular panellist on Loose Women
, both for ITV
.
In 2005, the fitness
DVD
Claire Sweeney: The Perfect Fit with Weight Watchers
was released. For a period, Sweeney was the holder of The Forces Sweetheart
title. In 2001, she won Rear of the Year.
She starred in the pantomime
Snow White
at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
in December 2008. In the late part of 2008 she was the main figure in the documentary Claire Sweeney's Big Fat Diet on ITV in which she gained 2 stones/13 kilograms in 6 weeks to prove that lack of eating and training habits can damage your health. She then starred in the touring production of the musical Shout! alongside Su Pollard
. In March 2009, Sweeney appeared in adverts for Dulux
paint, and became the face of Park Christmas Savings. In December 2009 she starred as Carrion the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty
alongside comedian Kev Orkian
at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley.
Claire made several guest panelist appearances on Loose Women
and was a commentator on The David Dickinson Show for ITV
both in early 2010 - later, in July 2010 she was the presenter of Chefs at Sea on GMTV
.
In October 2010, Claire launched her own unique range of jewellery on shopping channel bid tv
.
Claire returned to musical theatre in 2011, playing both 'The Girl' in a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber
's musical Tell Me on a Sunday
and replacing fellow Liverpudlian Liz McClarnon
, as Paulette, in the first UK tour of Legally Blonde the musical
. During April 2011, she also starred as Amanda in the BBC
television series Candy Cabs
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
actress, singer and television personality
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
best known for playing the role of Lindsey Corkhill
Lindsey Corkhill
Lindsey Corkhill is a character in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. She was played by Claire Sweeney from 1991 to 2001 and then again in 2003..-Character:...
in the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
and her appearance on the first series of the Reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother.
Early Life
Sweeney was born in WaltonWalton, Merseyside
Walton, originally known as Walton-on-the-Hill, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, is an area situated to the north of Anfield and the east of Bootle and Orrell Park. It is largely residential, with a diverse population.-History:...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. She trained at the Elliott-Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool, and went on to the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Her first singing gig, at the age of 14, was in the Montrose Club in Liverpool. In 1987, she was a member of the Southport Summer Youth Theatre Workshop's production of the musical Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
. Following this production, she auditioned for a part in the Southport Arts Centre's Centre Stage Company production of Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
but was turned down because she was considered too young - she later went on to star in a West End version of the same show.
Career
After leaving stage school, Sweeney had many singing engagements before landing the role of Lindsey Corkhill in BrooksideBrookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
in 1991. She entertained cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s for P&O
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. Originally a constituent of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world, having operated the world's first...
as a singer for four years before returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. On her return, Sweeney reprised her role of Lindsey and remained on the show as a leading character until its demise in 2003.
Sweeney appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2001 in aid of Comic Relief, where she met Anthea Turner
Anthea Turner
Anthea Millicent Turner is an English television presenter and media personality.-Education:Turner was educated at the independent St. Dominic's High School in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent....
who has become a close friend. Her appearance on the show prompted her to greater fame amongst the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
public. This directly led to appearing as "Roxie Hart" in the musical Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 2002, Sweeney released an album, Claire on Telstar Records
Telstar Records
Telstar Records was a record label founded in 1982 by Sean O'Brien and Neil Palmer with a government loan of £120,000. It was founded as a specialist compilation marketing label and had hits with a range of compilation franchises such as the Deep Heat, Kaos Theory and 100% ranges...
. This consisted of a mix of original material and cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of well-known songs, which peaked at #15 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
in July 2002. In 2003, Sweeney returned to the stage in the lead in the world tour of Fosse
Fosse
Fosse is a three-act musical revue showcasing the choreography of Bob Fosse. After 21 previews, the original Broadway production, conceived and directed by Richard Maltby, Jr...
.
Sweeney then took a regular place on the panel of ITV's relaunched Loose Women
Loose Women
Loose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
from 2003–2005, but left to pursue her stage career.
In 2005 and 2006, Sweeney appeared in Pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
productions of Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
and Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
at Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Theatre Royal, Nottingham
The Theatre Royal, Nottingham in Nottingham, England, is part of the city's Royal Centre, which also incorporates the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall. The theatre is in the heart of Nottingham City Centre and is owned by Nottingham City Council...
. On 10 July 2006, Sweeney took over from Sally Ann Triplett
Sally Ann Triplett
Sally Ann Triplett is a British singer and actress most famous for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest and many West End productions.-Eurovision:...
in the role of "Miss Adelaide" in the UK production of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre
Piccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street, behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regent Palace Hotel, in the City of Westminster, England.-Early years:Built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A...
in London's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
for an 8 week run. Sweeney also played opposite Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
legend Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
before touring the UK extensively in the same production.
She has also presented a number of shows, such as Challenge of a Lifetime
Challenge of a Lifetime
Challenge of a Lifetime is a 1985 television film directed by Russ Mayberry. Starring Penny Marshall and Jonathan Silverman, the film focuses on a 35-year-old woman entering a Triathlon.- Plot :...
, I'm famous...and frightened!, A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe may refer to:*A Song for Europe, former name of British pre-selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest, now known as Eurovision: Your Country Needs You...
and 60 Minute Makeover
60 Minute Makeover
60 Minute Makeover is a British popular daytime home interior design television programme broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom.-Overview:...
and acted in Television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programmes such as Merseybeat
Merseybeat (TV series)
Merseybeat is a British police procedural television series shown on BBC One, with a total of four series broadcast between 2001 and 2004. The series follows the personal and professional lives of one shift of police officers from the fictional Newton Park police station on Merseyside, England.In...
and Clocking Off
Clocking Off
Clocking Off is a British television drama series which ran on the BBC One network for four series from 2000 to 2003. It was produced for the BBC by the independent Red Production Company, and created by Paul Abbott...
. In 2004, Sweeney appeared as a contestant on the first series of the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
pro-celebrity ballroom dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
. She has most recently been seen as the host of the television series Chef vs Britain and as a regular panellist on Loose Women
Loose Women
Loose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
, both for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
In 2005, the fitness
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
Claire Sweeney: The Perfect Fit with Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
was released. For a period, Sweeney was the holder of The Forces Sweetheart
Forces Sweetheart
Forces Sweetheart is a title given to some entertainment women mainly in the Royal Air Force, although it was also later used in the United States.-First World War:The role had its origins in World War I...
title. In 2001, she won Rear of the Year.
She starred in the pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
in December 2008. In the late part of 2008 she was the main figure in the documentary Claire Sweeney's Big Fat Diet on ITV in which she gained 2 stones/13 kilograms in 6 weeks to prove that lack of eating and training habits can damage your health. She then starred in the touring production of the musical Shout! alongside Su Pollard
Su Pollard
Susan Georgina "Su" Pollard, 7 November 1949, Nottingham) is an English comedy actress, most famous for her roles in the sitcoms Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord?. She is also well known for her unusual and flamboyant dress sense and her abrupt voice....
. In March 2009, Sweeney appeared in adverts for Dulux
Dulux
Dulux is an internationally available brand of paint. It is produced by AkzoNobel . The brand name Dulux has been used by both ICI and DuPont since 1931 and was one of the first alkyd-based paints.-History:...
paint, and became the face of Park Christmas Savings. In December 2009 she starred as Carrion the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince...
alongside comedian Kev Orkian
Kev Orkian
Kev Orkian is a British-Armenian musician, comedian and actor born in London to Armenian parents. He has performed around the world from New York, Los Angeles and Toronto to Dubai, Oman and Australia...
at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley.
Claire made several guest panelist appearances on Loose Women
Loose Women
Loose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
and was a commentator on The David Dickinson Show for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
both in early 2010 - later, in July 2010 she was the presenter of Chefs at Sea on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
.
In October 2010, Claire launched her own unique range of jewellery on shopping channel bid tv
Bid tv
Bid is a British television shopping channel based in the UK, that runs daily live reversed auctions. It was the first channel of its kind in the world. The channel first launched as Bid-Up.tv. The channel is owned by Bid Shopping.-Bid-Up.TV :...
.
Claire returned to musical theatre in 2011, playing both 'The Girl' in a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's musical Tell Me on a Sunday
Tell Me On A Sunday
Tell Me on a Sunday is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black. A one-act song cycle, it tells the story of an ordinary English girl from Muswell Hill, who journeys to the United States in search of love...
and replacing fellow Liverpudlian Liz McClarnon
Liz McClarnon
Elizabeth Margaret "Liz" McClarnon is an English pop singer, dancer and television presenter. She was a member of the group Atomic Kitten and originated the role of Paulette in the first UK tour of Legally Blonde the musical....
, as Paulette, in the first UK tour of Legally Blonde the musical
Legally Blonde (musical)
Legally Blonde is a musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. The story is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to...
. During April 2011, she also starred as Amanda in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television series Candy Cabs
Candy Cabs
Candy Cabs is a comedy drama series shown on BBC One in April 2011. The plot revolves around a group of friends who set up a female-only taxi company in a seaside town in Northern England...
.