Cassie Plummer could lose everything in Corrie as the troublemaker embarks on a new storyline that sees her drug Ken Barlow to steal from him.
Evelyn’s wayward daughter was recently hired by the Coronation Street stalwart (played by William Roache) as a carer but when she’s faced with the possibility of being unemployed, Cassie resorts to her old tactics and slips Ken a drowsy antihistamine to keep him under her thumb before going on a shopping spree with his debit card.
ITV viewers have seen Cassie put her dreadful plan into action in recent scenes. “She’s just gone into survival mode”, actress Claire Sweeney explains as she insists her motivations aren’t personal. “She hates herself for it. She absolutely adores him and nobody’s ever shown her kindness like he has.”
But while Ken is adamant she’s innocent, Tracy (portrayed by Kate Ford) is on to Cassie’s tricks. And the more Tracy tries to rattle Cassie, the more soap fans will be treated to another classic Corrie rivalry, reminiscent of the florist’s antics with Becky Granger.
“Tracy has been onto her from the beginning”, Claire recalls. “Tracy will go to any lengths to destroy Cassie. In a way, Cassie’s nicked her husband, although she’s with Tommy, she’s nicked her father’s affections, and taken her place in that house.
“We know Tracy is capable of some terrible things and she’s also met her match with Cassie. Cassie’s not a wallflower.” To make matters worse, Cassie’s connection with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) could add fuel to the fire.
“Everything with Steve has come from an honest and truthful place. Cassie’s a bit in love with him.” As for Steve’s state of mind, Claire shares: “He’s disappointed in her because he really likes her. And there’s that whole thing like, you know, when you really like someone you shouldn’t like but you just can’t help it.
“And I think there’s still moments between them where (the spark) is still there. He’s dejected, really.” Could he defend Cassie? Or will he side with the Barlows to avoid Tracy’s wrath?
Claire also warns fans that “the stakes are higher” than ever before for Cassie. “She was so happy with the Barlows, she’s part of a community, of a neighbourhood, she’s got friends, a lover, she adores Ken so you’re really going to see what she’s got to lose.”
As her new storyline unravels, Claire also makes sure to have time for her 10-year-old son Jaxon, whom she shares with former partner Daniel Reilly: “The thing with Corrie is, when you’re busy, you’re busy”, she claims. “But then it’s someone else’s turn on the roundabout and you get a bit of time out.
“What I do at the moment, when I’m busy, I just make sure we have fantastic weekends together. We’ve just been on holiday for the new year and it’s like mum on steroids.” Claire is thankful that Jaxon “understands” what her TV fame entails: “Jaxon is understanding. As soon as he was born, I became a working mum. A single working mum. And he understands that Mum has got to work.”
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