McClure successfully auditioned for entry to the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts aged 16, but her family could not afford the tuition fees, and she remained at the Workshop.

After starting a drama foundation course at the local college on leaving school, she left to work in retail, initially for H. Samuel and then Dorothy Perkins.

[3] After an 18-month period of taking walk-on parts in soaps and daytime TV, McClure then worked on the This is England film and mini-series from 2006 until 2015, portraying the role of Lorraine "Lol" Jenkins.

In February 2017, McClure made her professional stage début at Nottingham Playhouse in the fortieth anniversary production of Touched by Stephen Lowe.

In 2019, McClure starred as Nicola in the channel 4 drama I Am... with This is England and Line of Duty co-star and friend, Perry Fitzpatrick.

Also in 2019, McClure was cast in the TV adaptation of Alex Rider, a series of young adult books by Anthony Horowitz.

[14] In December 2019, McClure made a brief appearance as herself in the popular internet comedy series on YouTube, Charity Shop Sue, based in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire.

[15] McClure was also featured alongside Kaya Scodelario, Abbey Butler, Andy Crane and Paul Young in Plan B's music video "She Said".

McClure worked on a documentary to raise awareness of the disease,[19] which culminated in a performance in front of 2,000 people at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall.

[24][25] In October 2024, Evangelos Marinakis allocated to the choir a rehearsal and socialising space in the Robin Hood Suite at City Ground, Nottingham Forest football club's stadium.

Named Day Fever, the inaugural event was at Sheffield's City Hall,[27] with DJs including Jon McClure and Jonny's daughter, Katie Owen.

[35][36] McClure is close friends with Line of Duty stars Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar, and writer Jed Mercurio.

[45][46] In August 2022, McClure was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of Nottingham for her work with Our Dementia Choir, including a TV documentary.