Coronation Street bosses have reportedly splashed the cash in order to tie down two of its icons after a wave of exits from the ITV soap.
Viewers were rocked recently after learning Simon Barlow star Alex Bain and Lisa George, who plays Beth Tinker, will be axed from the show in the summer. Peter Ash, meanwhile, will also be departing the Cobbles when his character Paul Foreman loses his battle with motor neurone disease.
Fans will be pleased to know, however, that two of the programme’s most renowned stars have signed new deals on better terms to remain on the Street, according to reports. It means former husband and wife duo Kevin Webster and Sally Metcalfe will be around for at least another year after putting pen to paper.
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The pair – played by Michael Le Vell and Sally Dynevor – will reportedly net £170,000 for their work.
(Image: ITV)
Michael, 59, joined the show as mechanic Kevin in October 1983 where he remained until 2013 when he was suspended over allegations of sexual abuse. Later that year he was found not guilty and returned after overcoming a drug addiction brought on by the stress of his trial.
Sally arrived in the Street three years after her former on-screen husband and has remained ever since – making her one of British television’s longest running characters. ITV’s actions come after Corrie failed to make Christmas Day’s top 10 most watched programmes for the first time in decades.
(Image: Granada Television)
A source revealed to the Sun: “Sally and Mike are two of Corrie’s most beloved stars. Bosses were desperate to keep them and they were happy to sign. They both love the show.”
Viewers have been busy expressing their disappointment at the show’s storylines in recent weeks, with many hitting out at the “dire” state it’s been left in. “Corrie is dire a the minute I watched all four soaps the other week and honestly Corrie came last on my ranking of episodes!” one soap fan said on X (formerly Twitter). “Last night’s Hollyoaks made me actually gasp on two occasions Corrie hasn’t done that for a long time.”
(Image: Internet Unknown)
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Another agreed: “Corrie is definitely in the worst state it’s ever been in. The show needs to have a big clear out of deadwood.” A third added: “Corrie is just dire and this is irresponsible, sensationalised drivel. The writers ought to hang their pitiful heads in shame… disgusted!” And a fourth said: “Corrie managed to achieve fantastic results in the past with the great writers. They didn’t need this (topical) disaster, nasty people rubbish every episode, or puerile jokes.”
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV1 from 8pm or catch up on ITVX.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
