Coronation Street stars are reportedly being barred from the Rovers Return as the soap desperately tries to cut costs.
Soaring TV production costs and a collapose in advertising revenue are said to have put the future of the ITV soap in jeopardy.
An insider has claimed some of the show’s well known actors could see their scenes in the Rovers Return cut in a bid to save money.
It comes after Charlotte Jordan announced she was leaving the show after five years, following the likes of Sue Cleaver, Colson Smith and Helen Worth.
A source told The Sun: ‘Charlotte leaving is just the tip of the iceberg. Corrie is on its knees financially and bosses are being forced to make hard decisions.
‘TV production costs have soared more than 50 per cent while the advertising market funding them has all but collapsed. The cast are not happy but ITV have no choice but to cut costs.’
Coronation Street stars are reportedly being barred from the Rovers Return as the soap desperately tries to cut costs (Charlotte Jordan who recently quit the show pictured)
Soaring TV production costs and a collapose in advertising revenue are said to have put the future of the ITV soap in jeopardy (Bill Roache pictured)
Salaries on Coronation Street vary significantly with established stars like Bill Roache said to earn £2,000 per episode while newbies usually get £400 per appearance.
The move has reportedly infuriated the soap’s actors as before, the Rovers Return would be filled with different stars who would all get paid for the appearance, even if they hardly spoke on screen.
The insider added: ‘The bar staff obviously had to be in all Rovers scenes so it was a great earner for them. But those days are now long gone – it’s just too expensive.’
The Rovers Return was shut for a substantial portion of 2023 as landlady Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews) experienced financial problems.
This plot is said to have been a secret cost-cutting drive by producers as it meant they could axe all large group scenes in the pub.
The publication also reports that changes to the filming schedule and restrictions on freelancers are being used to save money.
As more well-established stars are paid more per episode, the show is said to be relying more on its newer characters as those actors are paid less.
Gail Platt – played by Helen Worth for 50 years – appeared in just 26 out of 304 episodes in her final year on the soap.
A source said: ‘Charlotte leaving is just the tip of the iceberg. Corrie is on its knees financially and bosses are being forced to make hard decisions’ (King Charles pictured in 2000)
‘TV production costs have soared more than 50 per cent while the advertising market funding them has all but collapsed’ (Brooke Vincent and Michael Le Vell pictured)
Gail Platt – played by Helen Worth for 50 years – appeared in just 26 out of 304 episodes in her final year on the soap
Bill Roache as Ken appeared in just 48 episodes while Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) was in just 29.
Insiders claimed some of the show’s established stars are now worried about how they’ll pay their mortgages amid all the cuts.
Both Corrie and fellow ITV soap Emmerdale run regular set tours in a bid to earn money while Weatherfield now has it’s own EE shop in a ‘product placement’ deal.
By contrast, Corrie’s BBC rival EastEnders is still in a healthy financial position thanks to the licence fee and overseas deals.
But sources claim there are now concerns over whether Corrie – which turns 65 this year – will make it to 70 years in its current format.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Coronation Street for comment.
Charlotte Jordan revealed on Tuesday that she was bidding goodbye to the cobbles to ‘explore other opportunities’.
In a statement, she said: ‘My time at Coronation Street is something I’ll always cherish. After a brilliant four years for Daisy, it’s time for me to start a new chapter and explore other opportunities.”
‘It’s been a privilege to be part of a wonderful institution with even more wonderful colleagues who have taught me so much.’
Charlotte Jordan revealed on Tuesday that she was bidding goodbye to the cobbles to ‘explore other opportunities’
Her exit comes after several other actors have left the soap in the last few weeks, including Sue Cleaver, who has played the iconic Eileen Grimshaw for 25 years (pictured in September)
Colson Smith also confirmed he was leaving in the summer after 14 years on the soap as police officer Craig Tinker (pictured on show in June)
Sue Cleaver, 61, who plays the iconic Eileen Grimshaw, announced she was quitting last week after 25 years on the cobbles, to pursue new acting projects.
The actress has already begun to film her exit storyline, but will still appear on viewers screens until late spring.
Revealing her exit, the Loose Women panellist explained Eileen won’t be killed off by producers, leaving the door open for her to possibly return in the future.
Sue said: ‘I’ve had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street. The door is still firmly open but as I reached my 60th year, I decided it was time to embrace change, look for new adventures and live fearlessly.’
Colson also confirmed he was leaving in the summer after 14 years on the soap as police officer Craig Tinker.
The actor, 26, revealed exclusively to MailOnline at the weekend that he was told in Autumn 2024 that he would be written out of the show.
Reflecting on his on the show, Colson confessed that he has loved ‘every single second’ of his time on the show and feels ‘incredibly lucky’ to have been a part of the show for so long.
Colson told MailOnline: ‘Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinker’s time on the Cobbles is to come to end in 2025.
And Debbie Webster, played by Sue Devaney, is reportedly set to be killed off this year as part of a hard-hitting dementia storyline, after six years on the cast (pictured in July)
‘I’ve loved every single second of my 14 year stay as a resident on the greatest street in the world. I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in, on and around Coronation Street.
‘I’ve learned pretty much everything about life from the people who call it home. I’m excited to play out the exit story for our Craigy.
‘For me, this is the end of the beginning. I genuinely can’t wait to see what chapter two has in store for me.’
Debbie Webster, played by Sue Devaney, is reportedly set to be killed off this year as part of a hard-hitting dementia storyline, after six years on the cast.
Corrie only pulled in 2.6million viewers for its Christmas Day special which saw Gail Platt leave after 50 years on the show.
And last week, The Sun claimed that producers may now only guarantee contracts until the end of 2025 amid tightened budgets.
A source told the publication: ‘The cast of Corrie is huge and some aren’t getting enough episodes.
‘A few paid per episode are struggling to pay mortgages are having to supplement income with personal appearances and ads on Instagram.
‘A lot of cast members are now on ‘guest contracts’ like Maureen Lipman and Kate Ford. These are short term, so they can come and go and take extended breaks. The cast have been told they can’t guarantee any contracts beyond the end of 2025.’
