Veteran Coronation Street stars 'forced to take a pay cut'

Long-standing stars of Coronation Street are reportedly being forced to take a pay cut, or risk being axed from the show.

It’s said that the likes of Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, and Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Tanner, are among those targeted in forthcoming contract renewal plans.

They are said to be on £250,000-a-year to appear in the show, thanks to ‘old-style contracts’, with Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald) Helen Worth (Gail Platt), Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) and Sally Dynevor (Sally Webster) also on hefty wages due to their long-service.

Many of the show’s old guard earn around £200,000, while younger cast-members earn around £100,000.

An ITV source told The Sun: “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.”

“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.”

A spokesperson for the UK’s longest-running soap told Yahoo: “We don’t comment on contractual matters.”

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