COR-RIE BLIMEY! Coronation Street behind the scenes fury over latest blow after string of stars axed amid budget cuts
THE Coronation Street team 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.
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 those on set have been left “furious” after the latest impact, which has seen them paying to put on their own summer party.
There’s no official Corrie party, so the crew have organised one for everyone, which will see them pay £22 per person for their summer do.
They also need to make 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.
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.”
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.
