A split for Coronation Street couple Steve McDonald and Cassie Plummer has been all but guaranteed after the announcement this week that Claire Sweeney will be departing the ITV soap to pursue a new project.
The actor confirmed this week that she has landed a role in the UK and Ireland touring production of Annie, where she will be playing the iconic part of Miss Hannigan. Since Simon Gregson isn’t going anywhere, it’s all but certain that Cassie and Steve will be going their separate ways.
While Steve is happy in his relationship with Cassie, she isn’t too popular on the Cobbles, with Steve’s ex, Tracy, making it obvious that she doesn’t think they will last.
Of course, Steve only got with Cassie because Tracy cheated on him in the first place, sleeping with footballer Tommy Orpington behind his back.
Could the imminent break-up lead to the former couple eventually getting back together?
ITV
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Last year, Sweeney stated that she’d actually like to see Cassie and Steve get married, thinking it would be a complete turnaround for her character
“I said this to [Simon] the other day, ‘I’d love us to get married’. He went, ‘Not another wedding’,” she joked.
“I’ve never been married in real life, I’ve been married once in Brookside. It would be lovely to have a wedding in Corrie.
“There’s so much fun in the scenes with [the two characters] Cassie could have been doing some evil stuff and thinking terrible things, but the minute he comes she turns into a giggly teenager.
“He just strips all of this away from her and it’s really very genuine.”
ITV
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Digital Spy understands that Sweeney informed show bosses of her intention to depart a few months ago after nabbing the Annie role, something she has wanted for a long time.
A spokesperson for the soap said: “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.”
Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
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