CORONATION Street bosses have clinched two stellar signings after a pair of fan-favourites agreed to brand new deals, The Sun can reveal.
It will come as a huge boost to the crisis-hit ITV soap after a slew of stars quit amid cash woes.
We can exclusively confirm how Kevin Webster actor Michael Le Vell, 60, and his former on-screen wife, Sally Metcalfe, played by Sally Dynevor, 61, will remain on Coronation Street for at least another year.
A source told us: “Fans will be delighted to find out that despite all the exits on the cobbles, two of the show’s biggest stars have committed to another year on the soap.
“Both Michael and Sally jumped at the chance to stay and bosses were really happy about it!”
The Sun has contacted ITV for comment.
Earlier this week, we reported how an award-winning actress dubbed “the next Michelle Keegan” was the fifth in weeks to leave the tea-time show.
Charlotte Jordan, 28, who plays Rovers barmaid Daisy Midgeley, will bow out later this year.
Charlotte told sources that despite “loving the show” she is hungry to see what other opportunities await.
SOAP TURMOIL
The popular star’s exit comes after four actors announced they are quitting or have been written out of the soap since December.
ITV shows Corrie and Emmerdale have both seen budgets slashed recently.
New Corrie boss Kate Brooks warned last month she will be axing characters including “some unexpected ones that will send shockwaves”.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Coronation Street’s Sally Ann Matthews shares bizarre video saying ITV” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366327382112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Colson Smith (Craig Tinker), Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Luca Toolan (Mason Radcliffe) and Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster) are quitting or have been written out.
Sean Wilson was axed in September over a historical sex claim of which he was later cleared.
He had been due to return as Martin Platt as part of the departure storyline for Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth.
Meanwhile, the existing cast were left furious after their Christmas party was scrapped following the string of budget cuts.
It comes after their summer bash was also cancelled and the stars were forced to splash the cash on their own do.
The moves come as Coronation Street failed to make the Christmas Day TV top ten.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D102217%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]Just 2.6million viewers watched Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, bid farewell to Weatherfield after 50 years.
Actress Sally Ann Matthews also took to her Instagram Live during the festive period to claim ITV had “no money” – while revealing what she “hated most” about the long-running programme.
Jenny Bradley actress Sally’s comments came after fears her role had been axed this summer.
Yet she was promptly hauled into a chat with show bosses following the outburst.
