Who will be next? Fears MORE Coronation Street and Emmerdale stars will be brutally axed amid ITV cash crisis
THE ITV cash crisis hitting the nation’s biggest soaps has left Emmerdale and Coronation Street stars fearing the axe.
Budget cuts across the soaps - which are still the most-watched show son UK television - have meant bosses have been forced to take tough decisions.
In the case of the casts of the show, that means cutting a number of established characters in order to save money.
The Sun revealed yesterday how actress Susan Cookson had been left devastated by being axed from the soap after seven years playing Wendy Posner.
Another five high-profile cast members are leaving the show.
The Sun revealed how Paula Lane would be leaving the show in the new year as child killer Ella Forster.
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Over Christmas Will Taylor was killed off after actor Dean Andrews was axed after six years playing the reformed criminal.
Actress Daisy Campbell opened up about her devastation at being axed from the show after 13 years playing Amelia Spencer.
Brenda Walker actress Lesley Dunlop is also leaving the show after 16 years playing the cafe owner.
And Roxy Shahidi’s character Leyla Harding is set to be killed off in an explosive stunt in the new year too.
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Meanwhile sister soap Coronation Street is going through the same crisis with some of the cast being worried about paying their mortgages.
A source told The Sun: A source said: “The cast of Corrie is huge and some aren’t getting enough episodes.
“A few paid per episode are struggling to pay mortgages are having to supplement income with personal appearances and ads on Instagram.”
They went on: “A lot of cast members are now on ‘guest contracts’ like Maureen Lipman and Kate Ford.
“These are short term, so they can come and go and take extended breaks.
“The cast have been told they can’t guarantee any contracts beyond the end of 2025.
“Bosses are trying to use a lot of the younger cast who are on less money so the episodes are cheaper to make.
And Corrie boss Kate Brooks told The Sun how 2025 will see a number of axings as she makes her mark on the cobbles.
She said: “There are a few exits this year, and some unexpected ones that will send shockwaves.”
The news has left cast on both soaps fearing the worst.
A source said: “ITV is going through a cash crisis with the soaps and the money just isn’t there to pay for everyone any more.
“Ultimately if the character isn’t inspiring a lot of story from producers then there’s no space for them in the show anymore.
“There’s certainly a worry on set about who will be next to go.”
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Emmerdale Christmas and New Year schedule
Some episodes won't be uploaded to ITVX early, but the Christmas Day episode will ahead of broadcast
Monday December 23 - 7:30pm ITV1 & ITVX
Tuesday December 24 - 7pm ITV1 & ITVX
Christmas Day - 7pm ITV1 & ITVX
Boxing Day - 6:30pm ITV1 & ITVX
Friday December 27 - 7:30pm ITV1 & ITVX
Monday December 30 - 7:30pm ITV1 & ITVX
Tuesday December 31 - 7:45pm ITV1 & ITVX
New Year's Day - 6:30pm ITV1 & ITVX
They added: "It's a really worrying time for a lot of cast and crew on the soaps - they don't know if they're going to have jobs after their current contracts end.
"Soaps used to be steady employment for people in the industry but it's not that way anymore."