Claire Jane Sweeney (born 17 April 1971) 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 playing the role of Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago in London's West End. Early life Sweeney was born in Walton, Liverpool, the daughter of a butcher who had a shop in Toxteth. She trained at the Elliott-Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool, and worked at weekends in her father's shop. Her first singing gig was at the age of 14 in the Montrose Club in Liverpool, for which she was paid £25. She was then educated full-time at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. In 1987, she was a member of the Southport Summer Youth Theatre Workshop's production of the musical Hair. Career Sweeney's first major role was as Lindsey Corkhill in the soap opera Brookside, initially as a recurring character from 1991 and then as a leading character from 1995 until the programme ended in 2003. In 2001 Sweeney appeared in the first series of Celebrity Big Brother and Lily Savage's Blankety Blank, and presented ITV's Challenge of a Lifetime. She was also cast as Roxie Hart in the London revival of the musical Chicago. In the same year she became a brand promoter for Marks & Spencer, and a brand ambassador for Fashion World and SlimFast. In 2002 Sweeney became a forces sweetheart and entertained British Army troops serving in Afghanistan. In the same year she released the album Claire, featuring a mix of original material and cover versions: it peaked at number 15 in the UK Albums Chart in July 2002. She also co-presented BBC One's A Song for Europe with Christopher Price. In 2003, Sweeney starred in the world tour of the musical revue Fosse, and featured on the album Give Me a Smile by Carl Davis and the BBC Concert Orchestra. She was a regular panellist on the ITV's Loose Women from 2003 to 2005, and has appeared as a guest panellist several times since then. In 2004, Sweeney appeared as a contestant on series one of Strictly Come Dancing, being eliminated in week five. From 2004 to 2006 Sweeney presented the ITV daytime show 60 Minute Makeover. In 2005 Sweeney presented series four of the Living TV show I'm Famous and Frightened!. She also hosted BBC One's Here Comes