corrie-ing on
Coronation Street’s Andy Whyment hits back at soap’s cash crisis as he breaks silence on his future on the ITV show
His other co-stars were quick to comment and have their say
CORONATION Street actor Andy Whyment has hit back at the show's reported cash crisis with a very telling message.
The star, who has played the role of Kirk Sutherland, on the show for 25 years has spoken out about the current state of the ITV soap amid its recent cast exodus and alleged difficulties backstage.
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Corrie has been rocked by a number of stars either having been axed or leaving the show as it deals with financial difficulties amid falling ratings and high production costs.
However, Andy has hid his say to say he is "extremely happy" despite the recent reports.
Taking to his Instagram page, he became one of the first cast members to directly address the recent changes at the programme.
Andy said: "I’d just like to say that the show is not on its knees."
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He then went on to suggest he would be firmly remaining on the cobbles as he added: "I for at least one cast member am extremely happy and feel very grateful to still be working on Coronation Street."
His post sparked an influx of responses from his celebrity co-stars with Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby, on the show suggesting that despite "bad times", the cast will continue to stick together.
Jane wrote underneath Andy's post: "Amen to that, also we are a cast and crew who care and respect eachother deeply - through good times and bad. Through life and work. We are family."
Sue Devaney, who has been axed from her role as Debbie Webster, also commented: "Well said our Andy! It’s an honour and a privilege to work with the best!"
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Elsewhere, Eileen Grimshaw star Sue Cleaver, who recently confirmed she had opted to quit her role after 25 years, went on to say: "Corrie will always be my family!"
It comes after The Sun confirmed that both Jack P. Shepherd and Antony Cotton had survived the cast cull after both being locked down into contracts to see them through until close to the end of the year.
Corrie beauty Charlotte Jordan has quit the cobbles - the most recent in a string of blows to hit the ITV hit soap in the last month
It is likely to be a sigh of relief for the soap's top bosses who have been expecting even more stars to walk out the door amid the toughest period in the show's 65-year history.
A show insider said of Jack: “Jack signed his most recent contract last year so will be around for some time.
"He is a fan favourite so they would be gutted if he goes and they will do what they can to keep him happy.
"Bosses are desperate to keep him as long as possible.”
Corrie's most famous villains
- Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) - arguably the most famous villain in soap history. The character has multiple killings to his name. Richard left his former business partner Duggie Ferguson (John Bowe) to die before he murdered his ex-wife Patricia (Annabelle Apsion) who threatened to expose his dodgy dealings. He attempted to kill his mother-in-law Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) by setting her house on fire. He later killed her co-worker Maxine Peacock (Tracy Shaw) after she caught him in the act of attempting to strike Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) with a crowbar. Eventually he confessed his crimes to Gail (Helen Worth) before driving the Platt family into the canal. They all survived, but Richard drowned.
- Mad Maya (Sasha Behar) - She may not have the most kills to her name, but no true Corrie fan will be able to forget 'Mad Maya's' stint. Maya Sharma first started out as an innocent lawyer. However her true nature was revealed when she kidnapped Tyronne's () dog and threatened to kill Dev Alahan () unless he proposed. Things soon turn nasty when Sunita () received the news that she has a brain tumour. The pair rekindle their romance and they end up getting married. However, Maya ruined their big day by reporting Sunita to the police for bigamy. Not done there, she plans to kill them both as she sets fire to all of Dev's shop empire and trapping them both upstairs after she set fire to the corner shop with the gas and stove on. When they are miraculously rescued, she attempts to run them over.
- Pat Pheelan (Connor McIntyre) - Pat was introduced as an acquaintance of Owen Armstrong (Ian Puleston-Davies), before embarking on a revenge plot. He creates a fraudulent property scheme which caused the death of Michael Rodwell (Les Dennis). He kidnapped Andy Carver (Oliver Farnworth) and Vinny Ashford (Ian Kelsey). This was before he framed his arch-nemesis Anna Windass for GBH after he pushed Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) off a ladder. He then murdered both Any as well as Luke Britton (Dean Fagan). He eventually met a gruesome end when he held most of the residents of the street hostage in the Bistro. He was stabbed by Anna Windass after he shot Michelle (Kym Marsh).
- Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholomew) - Geoff started off as the innocent father to Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) and he was a local Weatherfield celebrity owing to his radio show and his 'The Great Magnifico' magic act. He later embarked on a romantic relationship and married with Yasmeen (Shelley King). However, he had a nasty streak as he controlled her in every way. He made sure she was reliant on him for everything including financially, he constantly bullied and belittled her, locked her in the magician's box despite the fact she was claustrophobic, and he even forced her to eat her own pet chicken. Later she snapped and stabbed him in the neck. This was before she was arrested for attempted murder. However, his nearest and dearest soon discovered his true nature and they turned against him. He tried to sabotage the trial by threatening his ex-wife, but she stood up to him in an epic court showdown. After Yasmeen was released, Geoff died shortly after when he set fire to their home and fell off the roof.
- Kirsty Soames (Natalie Gumede) - Kirsty was first seen on Corrie on a night out when Tommy Duckworth (Chris Fountain) paid her to flirt with Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall). Later she makes her interest very clear and they end up together. After she gets sacked from her job as a policewoman, Tyrone gets her a job at Underworld factory as a packer. She is utterly horrified and she lashed out at Tyrone with a ladle. Kirsty apologised and Tyrone pretended to all his friends the injuries were accidental. However, this pattern continued. Over several incidents she forced him up against a door, smashed household plates and pictures, bruised him after beating him with a vacuum cleaner, throws a candlestick at his head and she locks him inside the house. However, one time she tried to hit him but she lost her balance and fell down the stairs. She lies to the police and tells them that it was Tyrone who was beating her. Tyrone was put in prison after he broke bail conditions when he went on the run with his daughter. During the period of the trial, she struggles to look after baby Ruby. She throws a cup at Julie (Katy Cavanagh) before exposing her own behaviour by slapping her. Kirst then stormed into the courtroom and confessed that she was the monster, not Tyrone.
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