Coronation Street cast furious over latest impact of budget cuts after string of stars axed

Scottish Sun

19-06-2025

It comes as ITV slashed both Corrie and Emmerdale to five 30-minute episodes per week, rather than six.
COR-RIE BLIMEY! Coronation Street cast furious over latest impact of budget cuts after string of stars axed
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THE Coronation Street cast are furious over the latest impact of budget cuts after a string of stars were axed.
Bosses previously decided to slash the number of established characters in scenes taking place in the iconic Rovers Return pub in a bid to reportedly claw back cash.
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The Coronation Street cast are furious over the latest impact of budget cuts after a string of stars were axed
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Colson Smith was devastated to be axed as Craig Tinker
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Helen Worth has also retired from Corrie after 50 years
Every time actors appear on-screen, they are due a per-episode fee, which can mount up for actors on lucrative deals.
The cash crisis at ITV also prompted an exodus of huge cast members from the hit soap.
Longtime stars such as Sue Cleaver, Colson Smith, Shelley King, and Sue Devaney have either quit or were forced to leave the cash-strapped serial drama.
And now, it would appear the cast have been left 'furious' after the latest impact, which has seen them paying for their own summer party.
The party is £22 per person, and they are also being asked for further contributions, especially as what they pay will only cover venue, entertainment and security so they have to pay for their own drinks.
A source told The Sun: 'It's been a difficult few months and people were really looking forward to the party, but it puts a bit of a dampener on things that they have to pay.
'It might not be a lot to some of the bigger known stars but for some staff it is. The fact that drinks aren't included is a real blow too. People aren't really that surprised though considering the constant budget cuts.'
The Sun has contacted ITV for comment.
It comes as ITV slashed both Corrie and Emmerdale to five 30-minute episodes per week, rather than six.
Coronation Street's Colson Smith reveals the moment soap boss 'binned him' from show and says 'I knew it was coming'
A TV insider told The Sun in May: 'After the Daytime announcement, the big feeling within the soap departments at ITV is the cost-cutting focus will shift to them.
'There's been some seismic changes already over the past year in regards to penny pinching and many believe that's just the start.
'Given the big audience figures and institutional history within ITV, soaps used to have an untouchable feel about them.
'But that's changed significantly and they now feel more vulnerable than ever.'
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The beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
The show follows the lives of the residents as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles.
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The history of Coronation Street's iconic pub Rovers Return Inn
Earlier this year, ITV announced from January 2026, both soaps will be reduced to five 30-minute episodes per week, rather than six, resulting in a one-hour reduction in soap content on the channel.
Bosses attempted to spin the new streamlined output by branding the new soap schedule as ITV's new 'Power Hour', with Emmerdale airing at 8pm followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm, Monday to Friday.
However, the move is expected to cut up to 75 jobs, with many crewmembers already drafted into redundancy meetings.