Coronation Street bosses have spent a pretty penny to secure two soap icons as TV buffs claimed the show was going downhill.
Michael Le Vell, 59, and Sally Dynevor, 60, have signed eye-watering money deals to keep them walking down the cobbled street for at least another year.
The show’s bosses scrambled to tie the two down after the classic show missed out on the Christmas Day TV top ten for the first time in decades, according to The Sun.
Michael played mechanic Kevin Webster for 41 years, with his character married to Sally before their shocking divorce.
Sally has clocked up 38 years on the famous soap show, and the pair, thought to be on around £170,000 a year, are iconic fan favourites.
Coronation Street bosses have spent a pretty penny to secure two soap icons as TV buffs claimed the show was going downhill
Michael Le Vell, 59, and Sally Dynevor, 60, have signed eye-watering money deals to keep them walking down the cobbled street for at least another year
A source told the publication: ‘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.’
Bill Roache, 91, who has played Ken Barlow since 1960, has also signed a new cash-heavy contract.
The costly payout follows a slew of devastating exits by other Corrie icons.
Alex Bain, 22 (Simon Barlow) and Lisa George, 51 (Beth Tinker), will depart in the summer of 2024.
Peter Ash, 38, will be waving goodbye to the cast when his character, Paul Foreman, loses his fight with motor neurone disease.
One fan penned: ‘About 15 characters should be axed and you wouldn’t miss them. The stories are farcical and the acting of many is certainly questionable.’
‘Corrie is in the worst state it’s ever been in. It needs a clear out of dead wood.’
Michael played mechanic Kevin Webster for 41 years, with his character married to Sally before their shocking divorce
Sally has clocked up 38 years on the famous soap show, and the pair, thought to be on around £170,000 a year, are iconic fan favourites
‘Corrie is definitely in the worst state it’s ever been in. The show needs to have a big clear out of deadwood.’
It comes after the show announced that villain Dom Everett is set for a shocking return to the ITV soap just two months after his dramatic exit.
Dom, who Darren Morfitt plays, was spotted filming at the soap studio in Manchester on Monday, confirming his comeback.
The surprise will cause major drama for at least three residents, one of which was initially very glad to see the back of him at the end of last year.
Dodgy Dom is the estranged father of Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) and left the cobbles to go and live in Germany following a showdown with Eliza’s grandad Stu Carpenter (Bill Fellows).
Stu paid Dom £10k in exchange for him not being in Eliza’s life, but it now looks like he’s gone back on the deal.
MailOnlinw has contacted ITV for a comment.
It comes after the show announced that villain Dom Everett is set for a shocking return to the ITV soap just two months after his dramatic exit
