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Claire's new lifestyle plan

Luckily for the 34-year-old Scouser, she's found a weight loss regime that works well for her.

"About a year ago I joined Weight Watchers Online," she reveals. "I'd been trying loads of different diets and I was talking to my mum, telling her I just wanted something that was easy to stay on. She said, 'Try Weight Watchers, because no food groups are banned'.

"When I joined, I told them what my normal diet would be when I'm eating healthily, and they said, 'You're not getting enough, you need to eat more'.

"So immediately I thought, that'll do for me!" she declares with a laugh.

Since then, she's dropped down to a size 9.

Body

"I feel great now," she smiles. "I'll never be a size 8, but I'm really happy with my body at the moment."

So evangelical is she about the Weight Watchers programme, she's collaborated with her trainer Caroline Sandry to produce a DVD, Perfect Fit, extolling its virtues.

"It's my first ever fitness DVD," says Claire, "and it combines exercise with diet.

"I'm not a gym bunny, I don't like going to the gym. In the past, when I've had a trainer, I've been doing things like 200 sit-ups and I'd end up with a sore neck.

"With Caroline I was only doing about 20 of them, but they were Pilates-based and within two weeks I had a washboard stomach, rock-hard.

"What appealed to me about Weight Watchers was I needed a keep-fit programme that was manageable in my life. With this I can still go out and have a glass of wine, a biscuit or even a slice of cake if I wanted, as long as I accounted for it in my eating plan.

"Before, when I've been on a healthy eating or gym phase, if I fell off the wagon I would go on a binge for a couple of weeks. This is much more flexible, so that doesn't happen any more."

In the DVD, Claire presents various work-out plans, and also consults Weight Watchers chef Daniel Green for healthy eating ideas.

"He's lost three stone himself, and he does menu plans explaining how you can make something boring like water - which you need to drink a lot of - more interesting with a bit of mint or a squeeze of lemon.

Solution

"It's more of a lifestyle thing, really, than a short, sharp, solution.

"People assume it's because you're on television you feel the need to look good, but I think all women put themselves under that pressure. If I wasn't on TV, I'd still be worrying about my weight and trying to look the best I can.

"Most women are the same. You speak to the girls in your office, when one of them starts talking about diets, the rest all go, 'What's that?' and gather round. All women are alike."

As for the current trend for stick-thin, waif-like celebs, Claire is disdainful.

"I prefer a curvy woman to be honest," she says. "If you look at Kelly Brook, she's got a fabulous body and I think she's more attractive than a skinny bird.

"It's all relative, isn't it? I'm feeling good about myself right now, but the biggest I ever got was a size 12-14. However, someone else might just be hoping to get down from a size 18 to 16.

"It's different for everyone, but you've got to be healthy. I listen to my body. If I've gone out and had a load of booze and a load of curry for a few nights in a row, I feel lethargic, like a human dustbin.

"When I'm eating healthily and keeping fit, I feel much better."

Despite her efforts, she admits she has one Achilles' heel - white chocolate.

Weight Watchers

"I love it," she says, "but if I fancy some, I just work it into my Weight Watchers points system. My best tip for watching what you eat is to keep a food diary, because sometimes you're picking at things and you lose track of what you've had."

With a new year upon us, Claire's got some definite resolutions for 2006.

"I'd like to do a bit more drama," she says. "I just didn't have the time in 2005, I was so busy. The last thing I acted in on TV was Merseybeat and then Clocking Off before that. I really enjoyed them, so I'd like to go back and do more."

As for rumours about her joining the cast of Coronation Street, she says: "I saw that in a newspaper, but it's not true. If they did offer me something and it was the right part, I would certainly be interested, but it's nothing I've really thought about."

It was another soap, Brookside, which first brought Claire to the attention of the British public. In the show, she played the character of Lindsey Corkhill on and off from 1991 until the series' cancellation in 2003. Now the famous close of houses where all the action was set is up for sale.

"No, I won't be putting an offer in!" she laughs when asked if she'd be tempted to acquire her former TV home. "But, if I was back in Liverpool, I'd certainly go and have a last look around."

Brookie

While Brookie might have launched her career, it was Celebrity Big Brother which cemented it in 2001.

"It had a huge impact on my life. It was the first of its kind - there hadn't been any Celebrity Big Brothers or I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! at that time - so no-one knew the effect it would have."

With a new selection of famous housemates set to hit our screens on Channel 4 on Thursday, January 5, Claire's advice is straightforward.

"Just enjoy it," she says. "I really did. Don't take it too seriously either.

"It's just a bit of fun and it's only telly."

Claire Sweeney: Perfect Fit DVD is out now.

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