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Post by sootycat on Aug 17, 2008 12:24:27 GMT
From DS
A group of veteran Coronation Street stars have been told to expect massive pay cuts, according to a report.
Betty Driver (Betty Williams), Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan), Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole) and Eileen Derbyshire (Emily Bishop) will start to be paid on a scene-by-scene basis within the next few weeks, the Sunday Mirror claims.
The cast members currently receive between £180,000 and £250,000 per year. However, under the new arrangement, the stars' pay rates would only reach their former levels when the actors are involved in high-profile storylines.
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."
The news follows reports that Bev Callard, better known as Liz MacDonald on the soap, is facing a 40% salary cut.
Is this a way to off-load older characters. ??
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 17, 2008 14:03:33 GMT
LOL! Excellent! Do I hear the announcement of Barbara finally keeping her word and quitting???
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Aug 17, 2008 14:57:53 GMT
Its a shame they didn`t decide on the pay cuts before they gave Miss Hell a new contract. Maybe that`s why she`s in so many scenes now...to justify her pay cheque. Wow can you imagine the amount of money she`d be getting if she got paid by the episode now!!!
With Beverly Collards contract being made so public, I`m wondering if the bosses are considering phasing out Liz`s appearances to make way for Miss Hell to be 'Queen of the Rovers'. I really hope to God I`m wrong.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 18, 2008 17:48:16 GMT
She quit yet?
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Aug 18, 2008 17:55:43 GMT
I hope you're wrong too CG
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 18, 2008 17:59:59 GMT
There's clearly an age issue at Kim Crowther's heart. Extras and now older cast. They don't actually DO anything though apart from get daft storylines to make up the numbers. When are ITV going to see sense and axe two eps?
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Aug 18, 2008 18:51:02 GMT
Thank God Kim Crowther wasn`t around in the 60`s, or she would have gotten rid of Ena, Albert and Minnie which would have deprived the fans of many enjoyable scenes.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 18, 2008 21:37:47 GMT
They'd never have even been cast if she had her way.
Patsy
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 21, 2008 13:49:04 GMT
How many days does it take for the headline, "Barbara Knox Quits!" to appear on the front of all the papers?  Patsy |
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Post by sallywebster on Aug 21, 2008 16:04:00 GMT
Most probabaly wouldnt - the latest Big Brother news would be the headline with any Corrie storys pushed aside!
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 21, 2008 16:05:07 GMT
That's not on the papers I get. And I'd do anything to get Gary Glitter off the front. So come on, Barbara. It's your public duty!  Patsy |
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Post by CG Wendy on Aug 21, 2008 17:44:57 GMT
Seeing that perverted sick twisted SOB on the front pages makes my stomach heave
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 21, 2008 18:40:05 GMT
You're not kidding and after what he did he deserves NO coverage but a slow and agonising demise at the hands of the children he abused.
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Aug 21, 2008 19:36:32 GMT
Castration with an Aids encrusted rusty blade without an anesthetic wouldn`t go amiss either
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 21, 2008 19:37:11 GMT
By castration I assume you mean do a Bobbitt.
Patsy
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 23, 2008 10:33:11 GMT
From The Stage:
Credit Crunch Corrie
By Mark Wright on August 19, 2008 4:47 PM |
It’s like Vordermangate over at Coronation Street at the moment it seems, with veteran cobble-walkers having their six-figure salaries slashed, and being paid on a by scene basis…
This began a few weeks ago when it broke in the papers that queen of the mini-skirt, Beverley Callard (Liz McDonald) was taking a salary cut and being paid per episode, which could lose her a reported £50,000 per year. And now the Sunday Mirror has reported that some of the longest serving talent on Coronation Street will be now be employed on a play and pay basis. According to the paper, this august list includes Malcolm Hebden (Norris), Betty Driver (Betty), Barbara Knox (Rita) and, William Roach aside, the soap’s longest serving performer, Eileen Derbyshire (Emily).
Some of these actors reportedly earn up to £250,000 a year, and it is believed this new system of pay will seriously reduce their pay packets, with a supposed ITV insider saying:
“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.”
I have a huge amount of affection for Coronation Street and watch it as often as I can. One of the soap’s great strengths, and always has been, is that it does give attention to the elder statesmen of the Street, with some of the best storylines coming from these quarters. However, I can see ITV’s point from a business point of view - those actors alone probably represent a wages bill of over £1 million. In relation to their screen time, does this represent good economic value? Probably not.
Yes, these actors have given their heart and soul to Coronation Street over the years, but let’s face it, they have been rewarded handsomely for many of those years. More than that, they have also been protected from the trials of being a jobbing actor - in effect, they have had a job for life and suffered none of the pitfalls of their peers in the industry.
I’m not suggesting for a second they should be grateful for that - they have undeniably worked hard - but let’s have some perspective. And the alternative to this pay cut would be a harsh one - an out and out sacking from a job that they clearly love. Axes have been wielded in Weatherfield before, and they could easily be wielded again…
The economic times are a-changing, and for ITV, belts are being tightened everywhere. On screen talent, whether actors or presenters, cannot hope to command huge fees any more, and adaptation on all sides is needed. And I would suggest Auntie Beeb needs to do the same.
Still, I notice nobody’s mentioning any cuts to William “Ken Barlow” Roach’s salary. Surely that would be like asking the pope to stop wearing a big hat…
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