CORONATION Street and Emmerdale’s top stars are said to be in fear of an axings bloodbath as the coronavirus crisis hits, it has been claimed.
Despite news that filming on soaps are to resume, dozens of actors are worried for their jobs.
Others dread they will have to quit the shows to make ends meet as they believe they won’t get enough work to survive.
HOAR Online has been told famous faces on the cobbles and in the Dales have been desperately ringing round showbiz agents begging for work on reality TV shows or doing social media collaborations with firms.
One fixer based in the north of England said many stars on soaps who are paid per episode are concerned their episode count will drop through the floor once their return to work.
Emmerdale has now returned to filming, but just 13 actors will appear in the next six episodes.
Social distancing rules will mean smaller casts on set and the speed of filming will also slow – meaning less instalments can be filmed per week.
The celebrity agent revealed: “I’ve had several people on from Emmerdale – famous names who are very worried.
“These are people who’ve been in the show for years and they were apprehensive for the future. Inevitably, the cast call will be far lower for each scene meaning people will be left at home and not getting paid.
“They also think that the longer this goes on the more ITV will realise they don’t need so many people on the cast so when contracts come up for renewal, some people just won’t have theirs renewed.
“I’ve had two big name stars on asking for work – anything they said. Voiceovers, reality TV, dong collabs on Instagram. I know the Corrie cast have the same fears, too.”
ITV bosses told actors the beginning of the shutdown on March 23 that their wages were safe for three months after execs held talks with actors’ union Equity.
Actors on Emmerdale and Coronation Street are paid between £400 and £2,000 an episode and their deals guarantee they will appear in a minimum number of shows during the term of their contract. And they also get repeat fees.
But the agent added: “For the newer stars, the minimum number can be quite low and they earn their money appearing in extra episodes.
“The social distancing measures will mean that for some on a low threshold of episodes they might not get enough work to make it worth their while.”
Emmerdale resumed production this week with a phased return to filming planned.
Show bosses are already thinking ahead about a fuller scale return within weeks, while adhering to official guidelines.
