Claire Jane Peacock (also Casey) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

Her storylines have since seen her fall in love with and marry Ashley, developing post natal depression after giving birth to their son Freddie.

Claire was originally intended to be central to a long-running child abduction storyline, however, this was dropped by the show's producers as a result of its close resemblance to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The character has been criticised by Coronation Street's former executive producer David Liddiment, for being used as a vehicle to support a politicised corporate campaign, encouraging social action and volunteer work.

Chris Mulligan, Director General of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive revealed that; "Following an approach from Granada Television, we made it clear that we would find any storyline involving a tram accident questionable.

"[5] A smaller scale storyline aired the same year saw Claire instead train as a bus driver, accidentally running down Chesney Battersby-Brown's (Sam Aston) dog Schmeichel on her first day.

Haworth summarised the plot line as having been "very draining",[4] explaining; "You can't help take some of it home with you, but that's how you really learn about your character.

"[4] Regardless, she stated that the post-natal depression had been her favourite storyline as Claire; "because it stretched me as an actress and gave me the chance to follow something from beginning to end and make it my own.

"[1] The storyline which saw character Casey Carswell set fire to the Peacocks' home while Claire was inside with son Freddie, was initially intended to be the beginning of a four-month-long child abduction plot.

Claire first arrives in Weatherfield as nanny to Joshua Peacock, after his mother Maxine (Tracy Shaw) is murdered by Richard Hillman (Brian Capron).

After attempting to return her child to the hospital, claiming he has been switched at birth and pushing him in his pram into a busy road, Claire is sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

She is allowed to return home a month later, and chooses to rename Thomas as Freddie, following the death of Ashley's father, Fred Elliott (John Savident).

In late 2006, Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) befriends Claire when she and her boyfriend Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward) become the Peacocks' new neighbours.

In 2007, Claire begins working for Weatherfield's "Women In Crisis" helpline, where she meets and befriends a woman who has lost her child – KC Carswell (Zoe Henry).

During her recovery, Claire, fearful of her post natal depression reoccurring, decides not to have any more children and insists Ashley have a vasectomy.

On 6 December 2010, a huge explosion tears through 'The Joinery' bar and seriously damages the viaduct above, which leads to a tram derailing and crashing into the neighbouring corner shop and causes the Peacock's house to catch fire.

Ashley listens to the message and sends one back just before the roof of the bar collapses and falls on him killing him just as he saves Peter Barlow's (Chris Gascoyne) life.

Claire is released on bail and Steve, Becky and Ashley's employee at the shop, Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey) advise her to leave the country to avoid going to prison.

Graeme obtains false passports for her and the boys and when the police come looking for her, Steve, Becky, Graeme, Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan), Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan), Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas) and Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) help her evade them by setting a decoy.

In 2005, The Guardian writer and former Coronation Street executive producer David Liddiment heavily criticised a storyline which saw Claire campaign to save the show's fictional 'Red Rec' recreation ground, deeming it "a political soap".

We were very concerned that the plot had child protection being considered when Claire presented at hospital rather than urgently alerting the health visitor service for additional support.

"[11] Coronation Street's producer Steve Frost defended the storyline, stating; "While many women in a similar situation receive help from the medical community such as doctors, health visitors and midwives, Claire went to great lengths to conceal the extent of her problems from everyone – even her husband Ashley – and was perceived by most people to be someone coping excellently with her role as a new mum.

"[11] In August 2007, TV critic Jim Shelley wrote that "Coronation Street has become unwatchable",[12] partly attributing the show's downfall to Claire, who; "is going mad – again – this time because she is suspected of kidnapping her baby and attempting suicide by burning the house down, two good ideas, as it goes.

"[12] Conversely, Guardian reviewer Nancy Banks-Smith deemed Claire the "voice of reason" at the climax of the storyline which saw her son Freddie abducted by former friend Casey Carswell (Zoe Henry).

"[14] Lucy Lather from Inside Soap included Claire and Ashley's romance in a feature profiling negatively received storylines.