Former Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson claims the soap’s younger cast are to blame for people switching off due to their ‘extremely average acting’.
The actor, 64, who played Jim McDonald between 1989 and 2000, said he believes viewing figures have dropped because the show is ‘fundamentally different’ and worries that it won’t be around in 10 years time.
Charlie told The Sun that when he attended Corrie writer John Stevenson’s funeral, he spoke to Sarah Lancashire, who played Raquel Wolstenhulme int the nineties and the two agreed things on the soap had dramatically changed.
He said: ‘We felt it was a completely different animal, so fundamentally different from our day — and the viewing figures have plummeted.’
After soap legend Helen Worth, 73, who plays Gail Platt announced she would be leaving the show earlier this month, Charlie went on to say he fears cast members like Sue Nicholls, 80, who plays Audrey Roberts, and Barbara Knox, 90, who plays Rita Tanner, could also depart as they are ‘not happy’.
Former Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson claims the soap’s younger cast are to blame for people switching off due to their ‘extremely average acting’. (Charlie pictured in 2019)
The actor, 64, who played Jim McDonald between 1989 and 2000, said he believes viewing figures have dropped because the show is ‘fundamentally different’
He said: ‘It wouldn’t surprise me if some of the elderly actors leave too. I know they are not happy, it’s not the happy ship it used to be.
‘They are the foundation of Corrie, and the young ones have to try and live up to that. But I’m afraid most of them never will. Some are great but many performances from some of the younger cast are extremely average, sometimes disappointing.’
Charlie went on to say how show bosses write storylines for ‘amazing’ actors like Alison King, who plays Carla Connor, but warned they are exhausted with the pressure put on them.
The veteran actor has returned to the cobbles many times to play Jim, most recently in 2019.
And despite previously predicting Corrie may end within 10 years if it continues with its ‘woke’ plots, the star said he would not rule out returning to Weatherfield again.
However this time, he feared his storyline would be the end of the road for Jim with the scenes involving all the McDonald family: Beverley Callard as his ex-wife Liz, and Nick Cochrane as his son Andy.
Charlie who has written his autobiography That’s Life, So It Is – which is a nod to his Corrie catchphrase – married his long-time partner of 22 years Debbie Stanley in September last year.
The wedding saw Simon Gregson, who plays Charlie’s on-screen son, Steve, act as the best man.
The ceremony was officiated by friend and TV presenter Eamonn Holmes.
Charlie went on to say he fears after hearing Helen Worth who plays Gail Platt’s announced she will be leaving the soap, other ‘older’ cast members could also depart as they are ‘not happy’
The veteran actor who has returned to the cobbles many times to play Jim, added other ‘amazing’ actors keep getting used for big storylines but they’re exhausted from all the pressure (pictured with Beverley Callard his on screen wife Liz McDonald in 1989)
Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson shared a glimpse of his wedding day after marrying his partner Debbie Stanley in a stunning October ceremony (pictured with Debbie and his Corrie co-stars Alison King, Kym Marsh and Simon Gregson)
Charlie’s close friend of 30 years Eamonn Holmes officiated the big day (pictured together in June 2023)
