Reports claim that Michael Le Vell and Sally Dynevor have signed new deals after Coronation Street stars Lisa George, Alex Bain and Peter Ash are set to leave.
Sally Dynevor and Michael La Vell, two prominent figures on Coronation Street, are rumored to have inked new deals that will keep them on the long-running soap opera for at least another year. The transactions occur before it is purported that Peter Ash, Lisa George, and Alex Bain will leave the ITV mainstay.
The Sun claims that Corrie executives were “desperate” to lock down Sally, 60, and Michael, 59, after the most recent holiday episode didn’t rank among the top 10 on Christmas Day. According to the publication, the two have inked “big-money deals” and are estimated to make roughly £17,000 annually.
A source told the outlet: “Sally and Mike are two of Corrie’s most beloved stars. Bosses were desperate to keep them and they were happy to sign. They both love the show.”
While Michael started playing Kevin Webster on Coronation Street in 1983, Sally, who plays Sally Webster, has been a regular on the soap opera since January 1986. William “Bill” Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, is rumored to have had his contract extended.
Express.co.uk has contacted a representative of Coronation Street for further comment. News of Sally, Michael and 91-year-old Bill penning new contracts should please fans.
This is a period of transition because this year will see the departure of three stars from the soap opera.
It was previously reported that 51-year-old Lisa, who has played Beth Tinker for the past 13 years, and 22-year-old Alex, who plays Simon Barlow, will both be leaving the show.
According to The Sun, Lisa is rumored to be filming her last scenes in the new year, with plans for them to air the following summer.
After 13 years on the soap opera, a source told the publication that she has established herself as a “firm fan favorite,” but that it’s time to “move on and take on new challenges.”
There have been similar comments made regarding Alex’s impending departure.
The star, who was cast as Simon Barlow at the tender age of seven, has already been a part of explosive storylines, and this summer will mark a farewell tour.
“Alex is sad to be leaving Coronation Street because it really is like a family—but he realises that the time is right to move on,” a source said in reference to Alex’s departure from the cobbles.
Peter, 38, is supposedly playing Paul, a victim of motor neurone disease, in his final storyline before leaving the soap opera this year.
“I think I was called into the producer Iain’s office late last year,” he said, referring to his impending four-year departure from Corrie.
“He said: ‘We’ve got this very big storyline for you, it should be a great thing to do. Unfortunately, it does mean an eventual exit’.”
He added that he was in “shock” and had “mixed feelings” over his departure. However, he added that he was “quite happy” to be involved in such a “powerful storyline”.
At the time of writing, it is not known when Peter’s, Alex’s or Lisa’s final scenes will air.
Fans have begged Corrie showrunners to fire a number of soap stars prior to the trio’s departures.
One person posted on X, a platform that was formerly Twitter, saying, “I can’t watch or stand the storylines in Corrie today. Get rid of woke plots, clear out the deadwood, and learn how to write from the original Corrie. Please amuse me, do not instruct.
Another person remarked, “Why not first get rid of Sean, Yasmine, Leanne, Billy, Simon, and Summer among other deadwood before bringing in a string of new characters?”
“Omg, the deadwood are actually leaving? Maybe #Corrie will start getting good again,” typed a third.