Dancing on Ice’s Claire Sweeney forced to sell home after making just £5k in a year before career comeback

CLAIRE Sweeney was forced to sell her villa in Spain last year after making just £5,000.

The 52-year-old, who is taking part in Dancing On Ice, struggled with her fiances after the pandemic - but has since made a TV comeback.

Asked how much money she made in 2021, Claire said: "Under £5,000. Our industry was decimated. Thankfully I'd sold a house in Spain, in 2019, so I was blessed that I could sit it out comfortably."

She added to : "It was a big house in Mallorca that I'd bought in 2004 for €690,000."

The former Brookside actress, who shot to fame playing Lindsey Corkhill on the show on and off from 1991 until 2003, admitted she found it devastating to part with the property.

The former Strictly contestant, who is mum to six year-old son Jaxon with her ex Daniel Reilly, added: "It broke my heart to sell but it was in its own grounds, and my little boy didn't want that - he wanted to be with other kids.

"I sold it for €950,000, but I had to pay Spanish taxes and English taxes."

In the end, Claire said she got back "more or less what I'd put into it" and says she still holidays in Mallorca, where renting is less stressful.

"It's a joy not to have the drama of 'this isn't working, that's not working," she explained.

Luckily, Claire has had much more work coming her way in recent years.

She recently landed a role playing Cassandra 'Cassie' Plummer on Corrie, who is the long-lost mother of Tyrone Dobbs.

And she's just signed up to take part in Dancing On Ice.

Speaking about the job on today's This Morning, Claire said: "I'm nervous and excited about doing it."

Quizzed on her previous dance experience, she said: "How does dancing prepare you for skating? It's totally different.

"It's more about the mind and conquering the fear. You can make nice shapes with your arms and stuff like that but it's about getting over the fear."