Coronation Street's Cassie star unrecognisable as she undergoes glam transformation

Coronation Street's Claire Sweeney, famed for her portrayal of Cassie Plummer in the ITV soap, was barely recognisable as she graced the set of Lorraine this week.

The Liverpudlian star was on hand to spill the beans about her latest plot twists with host Lorraine Kelly, presenting a stark contrast to her on-screen persona, Cassie, who is usually seen sporting ponytails and casual attire.

Instead, Claire showcased her golden locks styled in soft waves that cascaded over her shoulders, complemented by a striking neon pink blouse.

Opting for full-on glamour during the chat, Claire's makeup featured a slick of shiny pink lipstick and dramatic black mascara, while a touch of bronzer accentuated her cheekbones.

Engaging with Lorraine, she hinted at a budding romance for her character with Steve McDonald, expressing her delight at working alongside Simon Gregson.

Claire also shared her intentions to remain a fixture on the famous street, telling Lorraine: "I hope so. I feel very blessed. I love the show at the moment I'm signed until next year. I'm enjoying it, I'm happy, and I feel very honoured to be doing a storyline with Bill [Roache] and Simon."

Lorraine chimed in with her own hopes for the character's love life, saying: "Here's what I would like to see. I want you and Steve to get together. Obviously Tracy's going to get really, really jealous. So she won't like it," reports the Mirror.

Claire quipped: "Ooh, we'll have a fight on the cobbles!" as Lorraine expounded: "Exactly! It's that thing of, she doesn't want him, necessarily, but she doesn't want anybody else to have him. Then I would quite like you to run the Rovers together. Start writing the script now!"

Expressing more about working with Simon Gregson, Claire reminisced: "I hope [they get together]. I love working with him. You know when you meet someone your age who has all the same references in life, and we laugh... before the cameras start rolling, me and him are screaming laughing."

In reality, Claire is romantically tied up with boxer Ricky Hatton, and she divulged details of her relationship with Lorraine.

They fell in love while being part of Dancing on Ice, with Claire informing viewers: "I've known Ricky for, like, 25 years. We always passed each other at events.

"We did a TV show together. First of all I met him in the early 2000s, then we did Dance for Comic Relief together in 2013. Then met on Dancing on Ice. He makes me laugh, and we both like Only Fools and Horses, so what's not to like?"