Coronation Street star reveals what's next for Ken Barlow as soap icon 'shocked' by poisoning twist

Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney has shared details about what's next for Ken Barlow after it was revealed her character is poisoning the Weatherfield stalwart.

As fans of the ITV soap know, actress Claire arrived on the cobbles last summer as Cassie Plummer, the daughter of Evelyn Plummer and real mum of Tyrone Doobs.

After confronting her mother about her keeping her relationship with Tyrone a secert, Cassie later revealed her identity to the mechanic and has since made herself part of his and his children's lives and ruffle feathers on the street.

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But there was a shock this week when it was revealed that Cassie is drugging Corrie favourite Ken, played by soap legend William 'Bill' Roache. Cassie found herself in the fold at No.1 Coronation Street, earlier this year having become Ken's carer after he fell down the stairs and fractured his pelvis.

She has continued to support him for months but seemingly had a hidden agenda when Ken revealed he'd won a significant sum on premium bonds. Soon, Ken was whisking himself and Cassie off on a sun-soaked holiday but following the pair's return, during Monday night's (November 18) Corrie, Ken was seen letting Cassie go.

At the Bistro, Ken treated Cassie to some bubbly, and warmly thanked her for all she had done for him. It soon dawned on Cassie that she no longer had a job and she tried to cover her disappointment as she learned that Steve agreed with Ken's decision. Later, Ken agreed to use his experience and knowledge to help Cassie with her CV, and she ended up joining him back at the house.

But as they chatted and Cassie made Ken a hot drink, viewers saw her crushing a tablet and spiking him while she also gave Ken some of his usual medication. Then on Wednesday night’s episode (November 20) things take a dramatic turn when Ken is rushed to hospital. Is Cassie about to be found out, and why is she drugging the man she is supposed to be caring for?

Sharing what she thought about Cassie's latest move, Claire revealed: "I was shocked, it’s Ken Barlow, he’s a national treasure. I’m going to be Public Enemy No 1! I think viewers are going to hate her. The funny thing is that they’ve just started to like her – they were finally warming to her – and then this happens."

She continued: "In my head, playing her, I’m trying to find saving graces, but I don’t know if there will be any. I’m a Corrie fan and I’d be fuming watching this. Already in the summer when I went on holiday to Majorca all the old dears were saying to me: 'You leave Ken alone', Don’t you be upsetting Ken now.' And that was before I’d done anything!"

She was also asked what co-star Bill thought, to which the 53-year-old revealed: "We were both a bit shocked and it sounds awful that I’m poisoning him, but she just wants him to need her. She wants to keep her job and she loves being with him. Bill is like myself, he’s very keen to play the affection between the two characters so it’s not just black and white – there is a grey area."

But Claire is loving working with the iconic Barlow clan. She said: "There are three great relationships there for Cassie within the house. There are the dynamics of Cassie and Steve – they’ve got a chemistry. She absolutely adores and looks up to Ken and then there’s the cat-fighting with Tracy. My dream has always been to have a scrap on the cobbles with Tracy Barlow and it could be likely now."