Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell ‘has been drinking again for nearly a year’ says pub regular
See new pictures showing him enjoying a few pints with his girlfriend
CORONATION Street star Michael Le Vell has been back on the booze for nearly a year, says a concerned local.
New photographs showing the 51-year-old alcoholic enjoying a pint outside a pub near his Manchester home this afternoon are sure to worry fans after he publicly declared he was going sober in March 2014.
However, other drinkers at Sale pub The Brook claim the long-standing soap favourite - who plays grease monkey Kevin Webster - has been propping up the bar there for at least ten months.
One local, who wishes to remain anonymous told The Sun online: "Michael's been drinking at the pub for about a year now.
"It's not uncommon to see him between 4:30pm and 8:30pm on most weekdays.
"I guess he comes straight to the pub once he's done filming Corrie."
But despite the upmarket pub being right opposite the Brooklands Metrolink station, Michael's slip off the wagon has managed to go undetected.
The source added: "Sale is a nice area, lots of footballers live around there, it's not uncommon to see a celebrity or famous face.
"There's a lot of commuters too, but when it gets to about 5-ish, the time that people coming home from work are getting off the tram, Michael will go and sit inside in the corner.
"He always seems a bit on edge."
Michael, who first joined Coronation Street in 1983 was forced to admit he was an alcoholic when he was on trial accused of sexually assaulting and raping a girl when she was aged between six and 14.
He was found not guilty in September 2013 and announced he had stopped drinking in 2014 and sought treatment for his addiction.
However, his attitude to drinking appears to have slackened this year, and he was photographed with a pint in his hand in January at a celebrity party, and witnesses saw him drink "four pints" in March.
The source told The Sun that he's never seen Michael drinking anything other than pints.
He said: "I've never seen him drinking heavy stuff, like shots or shorts, it's always pints - and a constant stream of them.
"He must drink about ten pints a session, and he chain smokes, too."
The source adds that Michael never drinks alone, and is always accompanied by his partner Louise Gibbons, 39.
They said: "Michael always comes to the pub with his girlfriend, they always walk up together, I think they live nearby.
"But I remember one time I saw him come to the pub from the newsagents and he already seemed a bit drunk."
Once inside, he also chats to other punters, but on the whole keeps a low profile.
The source said: "He's one of three or four regulars that virtually live in that pub.
"I'm not sure if they are alcoholics too but they are always there and they all socialise together.
Latest in TV and Showbiz
"He's friendly with the people he sits with, but people don't really bother him.
"One time someone shouted, 'I can't believe I'm drinking with Kevin Webster!' but he just said, 'there's always one k**bhead...'.
"He did seem a bit annoyed though, but Michael always seems a bit on edge."
A rep for the actor declined to comment.
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220