A few of coronation street’s longest members have been told that they should expect to see a large pay cut.
Betty Driver (Betty Williams), Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan), Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole) and Eileen Derbyshire (Emily Bishop) will stop being paid a regular salary and start to be paid on a scene-by-scene basis.
They current get between £180,000 and £250,000 per year. They will only now be able to reach this sort of level when they get involved in much high profile storys.
An insider told the newspaper: “It’s an absolute disgrace. These stars have given their heart and soul to Corrie over the years. None of them expect to be - or have the energy to be - at the centre of huge ratings-busting plots.
“Betty’s nearly 90, Eileen and Barbara are in their 70s and Malcolm Hebden is 68. Instead of being rewarded for their contribution, they are being treated little better than extras.”
A Coronation Street spokeswoman confirmed: “It is the season when a lot of the older stars will start negotiations for next year. But we do not discuss artists’ payments or contracts.”