Why are Coronation Street stars being forced to take pay cuts and is the soap in trouble?
CORONATION Street bosses have told their biggest stars to "take a pay cut or take a hike", it's being reported.
The Sun exclusively revealed that some of the soaps veteran actors could see a decrease in their pay packet - here's why.
Why are Coronation Street stars being forced to take pay cuts?
In January 2019 The Sun exclusively revealed that some Corrie stars could face a cut in their wages.
Most contracts are renegotiated on a yearly basis and a big pay gap has reportedly been revealed.
Many of the veterans earn around £200,000 annually while younger cast members take home approximately £100,000.
An ITV source said: “Bosses have made it clear that the older deals are no longer in line with some of the younger stars. In some cases, less-paid actors are on screen a lot more than the others.
“Some of the old guard get massive pay irrespective of how much they actually work.
“Some even have deals which guarantee wage hikes every year — but these are also going now.”
The cuts are set to be applied this year when contracts come up for renewal.
Which Coronation Street stars will be affected?
It is reported that the soap’s longest-standing stars on old-style contracts are set to take the worst wage hit.
These include:
- Simon Gregson who has played Steve McDonald since 1989.
- Helen Worth who has played Gail Platt since 1974.
- Sue Nicholls who has played Audrey Roberts since 1979.
- Sally Dynevor who has played Sally Webster since 1986.
- Even Corrie’s best-paid pair, Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) and Barbara Knox (Rita Tanner), who are thought to be on £250,000 a year could be affected. Both have appeared in the ITV drama since the 1960s.
Is Coronation Street in trouble?
It doesn't look like the soap is in trouble, just that they are trying to even out pay-gaps in individual contracts.
It makes sense to lessen the gap of those who are on screen more and paid less, to those who are paid more purely because of veteran Corrie status.
The Sun's Corrie source said the intention was to “even things out”, and said: “Obviously this hasn’t gone down particularly well with those hit. But rocking the boat comes with the fear of falling out of favour — and being written out.”
More Corrie news
When is Coronation Street on TV?
Corrie is on SIX times a week.
You can catch it on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
On each of these days the first episode is on 7.30pm followed by a second instalment at 8.30pm.