Ex-Coronation Street star ‘can’t afford heating’ due to backlash over his ‘beliefs’
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Former ITV Coronation Street star Charles Lawson has said that 2024 was his career’s ‘rockiest’ and can’t secure acting roles due to his controversial personal and political views. Lawson, 65, played Jim McDonald regularly for 11 years from 1989, before returning intermittently for four further guest stints between 2003 and 2018.
![[Andy, Liz, Jim and Steve McDonald in Coronation Street]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236644093-1cee.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Jim was the husband of the iconic Liz (Beverley Callard), and father to their sons Steve (Simon Gregson) and Andy (Nicholas Cochrane). His final story saw him return with a huge shock for Liz – their daughter Katie, who died as a baby, was actually still alive.
![[Jim McDonald talks to Hannah on a bed in Coronation Street]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_230133423-a653.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
In a horrifying twist, it later transpired that the woman was actually his much younger girlfriend, and the pair had concocted the story to scam his family out of cash. He is currently a pundit on GB News, regularly appearing to give his opinion on the day’s events.
![[Jim McDonald stood in front of some graffiti reading 'Steve McDonald is a grass' in Coronation Street]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_230133433-0a0d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The actor has now said that he has troubles heating his home, which he shares with wife Debbie, due to a number of financial issues. Last year she was forced to sell her Cheshire farm shop, whilst they also faced legal issues over unpaid debts mounting to £50,000.
![[Jim and Steve McDonald have a coffee on Salford Quays in Coronation Street]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_230133422-ed56.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Addressing his troubles on BBC Radio Ulster’s The Nolan Show, he said: ‘2024 is the most unsuccessful year I’ve had in 44 years. And there are a lot of issues to do with that. ‘I’ve got lots of white hair, I’m 64 and there are less parts around.’.
