Coronation Street and Emmerdale stars are ‘worried about paying their bills’ after a recent email revealed that they would be filming fewer scenes and would therefore be paid less
Jessica Clarke Digital Reporter
19:04, 08 Mar 2026
Soap stars are reportedly ‘threatening to go on strike’ over pay cuts(Image: Richard Saker/Shutterstock)
Soap stars are reportedly upset after a major soap rescheduling sparked a shake-up to the number of episodes being aired – and the pay packets of some TV favourites. Actors were reportedly shocked when a recent email revealed that they would be filming fewer scenes.
A source claimed that an email from ITV management told ‘140-odd actors and their agents simultaneously’ that all ‘new contacts’ will be cut by a sixth starting in the summer. The source told The Sun: “It’s caused uproar. There was no consultation. They effectively told the stars to ‘take it or leave it’.”
A Coronation Street spokesperson told The Mirror: “In line with ITV’s new scheduling pattern for the soaps introduced at the beginning of the year, we have revised the number of guaranteed episodes offered to the Coronation Street and Emmerdale actors.”
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Actors were reportedly shocked when a recent email revealed that they would be filming fewer scenes and would therefore be paid less
Because actors are paid per episode they film, fewer episodes will mean some are likely to end up being paid less. However, stars often exceed the number of ‘guaranteed episodes’ they take part in and therefore may see no change to their incomes.
An source labelled the news as “a major crisis” and said: “The actors and actresses of both Corrie and Emmerdale are furious. Some have been in tears and are worrying about paying their bills,” reports The Sun.
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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has reportedly been called in by a “veteran cast member” to help resolve the crisis, with reports indicating she plans to hold discussions with reps at Equity – the actor’s union.
It comes after soap fans were left fuming after Emmerdale and Coronation Street were both pulled from their usual slots last week in another schedule shake-up due to live sports coverage. Emmerdale currently airs at 8 pm on ITV for 30 minutes and is followed by 30 minutes of Coronation Street but both were cancelled last Friday to make room for the rugby.
It comes as longer-serving stars are reportedly protected due to come older-style contracts(Image: ITV)
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