Claire Sweeney gives birth to a boy – 'Walton'

Former Brookside star Claire Sweeney has given birth to a boy and named him after the part of Liverpool where she was born.

The baby, born on September 29 in the city's Women's Hospital by Caesarean section, has been named Walton.

Claire, who has also had a successful stage career, said: "My baby is beautiful and has me awake every hour breast feeding."

The actress was joined at the hospital by the baby's father, Daniel Riley, and her manager said: "Claire plans to stay in hospital until tomorrow so she and Daniel can rest and enjoy their newborn baby in private."

Claire's career also includes a stint on the Loose Women panel and an appearance in a series of Celebrity Big Brother.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.