Coronation Street cast given ‘shorter contracts’ amid ‘budget crisis’
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Coronation Street are reportedly offering cast members shorter contracts amid an ITV ‘budget crisis’. The news comes following a wave of character exits confirmed across both Corrie and sister soap Emmerdale, plus both festive outings failing to reach the Christmas Day Top 10 for viewing figures.
![[Tracy McDonald and Tommy Orpington in a passionate moment in the Coronation Street ginnel]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_188163617-b22f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Rival soap EastEnders managed to make the list – with two outings coming in at 5th and 8th place. Audiences bid a fond farewell to continuing drama legend Helen Worth over the festive period, when she departed her Gail Platt role after 50 years. The episode secured just 2.6 million viewers, compared to the BBC soap’s combined 3.98 and 4.39 million.
![[Evelyn Plummer (Maureen Lipman) in Coronation Street]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_231907061-6245.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Now, according to The Sun, cast are fearing what this might mean for their contracts beyond 2025. ‘The cast of Corrie is huge and some aren’t getting enough episodes’ a source told the publication. ‘A few paid per episode are struggling to pay mortgages are having to supplement income with personal appearances and ads on Instagram.
![[Debbie Webster in Coronation Street]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PRI_163994483-706c-e1732550728900.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘A lot of cast members are now on ‘guest contracts’ like Maureen Lipman and Kate Ford.’. Kate’s Tracy McDonald departed for pastures new in Spain with boyfriend Tommy Orpington (Matt Milburn) in April, though has made regular returns since. In upcoming scenes, Evelyn Plummer will decide to study law at university, with Maureen explaining that she took the decision to temporarily leave so that she could have a ‘gap year’ with husband-to-be David Turner.
![[Rob Donovan with his arms folded in Coronation Street]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/embargo_coro_rob_donovan-ed2c.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
