Claire Sweeney forced to sell Mallorca holiday villa after making just £5k last year

Claire Sweeney has shared her heartache over the fact she had to live off the money from the sale of her holiday home during lockdown as her earnings plunged to £5k.

The 50-year-old soap icon says her income was ‘decimated’ by lockdown as she was unable to perform on stage or screen as the Covid pandemic wrecked havoc on her industry.

The singer and actress has a long career that stretches all the way back to 1991 when she first landed a role on Brookside and she went on to enjoy roles on Clocking Off, Merseybeat and parts on Benidorm and Holby City.

But when lockdown effectively shut down the entertainment industry in March 2020, Claire found herself out of work and living off the money she had in her bank thanks to a house she happened to sell the year before.

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Claire Sweeney says she glad she flogged her holiday home before the Covid-19 pandemic derailed her career ( Image: Instagram/ @claire.sweeney)

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The star says she earned just £5,000 last year as work dried up due to lockdown ( Image: Instagram/ @claire.sweeney)

Opening up about her finances to The Sunday Times, Claire was asked point blank how much she earned in 2021 and she replied: “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.

“It was a big house in Mallorca that I'd bought in 2004 for €690,000 (£580,000).”

“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.”

Claire shares six-year-old son, Jaxon, with former fiancé Daniel Reilly ( Image: Instagram/ @claire.sweeney)

Claire – who shares six-year-old son Jaxon with former fiancé Daniel Reilly – went on to explain that, although she did sell the property for a higher price than what she bought it for, her profits were ultimately swallowed up by taxes as she was slapped with bills on both sides of the Channel.

She said: “I sold it for €950,000 (£804,000), but I had to pay Spanish taxes and English taxes.”

Fortunately, work has picked up again for Claire and she will soon be seen in a new West End show called Cabaret All Stars – which she says she has been getting in shape for.

Claire discussed her fitness journey on Lorraine earlier this year ( Image: ITV)

She recently explained all to Closer magazine, saying: “This show has got a really raunchy feel to it, laced with lots of humour.

“I wear a fabulous catsuit! I find it really liberating that I'm going to get completely outrageous and I am going to sing the song Light My Fire with a big band arrangement – and I think they're actually going to set fire to me while I'm doing it.”

“This does all mean that I want to look my physical best.

“So the plan is to start going to the gym and hot yoga five days a week, because it's amazing for weight loss and strengthening my core.”

Claire previously claimed she had gained weight during lockdown – and was hoping to shed the lbs while touring with a production of 9 to 5: The Musical during the opening months of this year.

Appearing on Lorraine back in January, she said: “I'm a stone overweight at the moment, but I think, that will come off. Just don't beat yourself up over things.”

Claire has already starred in a production of 9 To 5: The Musical this year – and is about to embark on her very own West End show ( Image: ITV)

Lorraine chimed in, saying: “You're a wise woman. Far too many of us put things off – thinking I'll wear that when I lose a stone. Wear it now!”

Claire laughed and said: “Get your suck-in knickers on and wear a frock!”

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