In Monday's episode, Ken let Cassie go from her job as his carer as he could no longer afford to keep her on, but in a shock twist she was then seen stirring crushed tablets into his cup of tea. As a result Ken will end up in hospital in today's episode - and Sweeney, who joined the soap 18 months ago, says that Cassie was motivated by a desire to keep Ken in her life. "She doesn't want to hurt him – she just wants him to need her.
She adores Ken," Sweeney explained. "The two of them find these moments of absolute affection with each other. They love being with each other.
"So, when Ken says he can't afford to keep her on she's devastated – where's she going to go, what's she going to do, who is she going to be with? There's an anger and a hurt and a feeling of abandonment. "It's not even necessarily money-orientated, she likes the life she's got looking after him. There's an element of Munchausen's to it.
" Initially Ken just feels drowsy and asks Cassie to take her job back, which she accepts, before his condition takes a turn. "She feels terrible. There's absolute remorse – she never wanted to hurt him and she thinks she's gone too far," Sweeney continued.
"She's not trying to harm him; she just wants him to need her. I think she regrets giving him blood thinners. There is an element of guilt – she does question herself.
" Nevertheless, Cassie will go on drugging Ken in future episodes, albeit having done more research about the correct drugs to use to avoid harming .