Soap stars threatened by yuppie influx

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 14

Soap stars threatened by yuppie influx

From TONY VERDON, London correspondent

Bulldozers are moving in to demolish a huge chunk of Coronation Street, making way for a staggering 20 new characters.

Even Mike Baldwin’s clothing factory is to be flattened in a bid to revamp one of Britain’s oldest and most popular soap operas. A new housing estate will be built in its place, paving the way for an influx of yuppies, who will bring a fresh feel to Weatherfield. But some of the old faces on the street reportedly fear the new stars will rob them of the limelight, and a large chunk of their wages. The maker of the twice-weekly soap, Granada, has been busily recruiting new actors in recent months, according to the “Daily Star” newspaper in London. The big • drive, with new characters, will come shortly after the

soap goes out three times a week in Britain, from next month. But the “Star” says the new moves have sparked a row with Bill Roache (who plays Ken Barlow), and Julie Goodyear (Bet Gilroy), Thelma Barlow (Mavis Wilton), and Barbara Knox (Rita Fairclough). They reportedly fear the changes will mean less work for them, which could slash their average salaries of about $2BOO a week, to just $7OO. One insider told the “Star”: “Everything is changing on the Street at the moment. In all its years there have never been so many changes. “Viewers will hardly recognise the place and won’t believe it when they see the number of new faces.” The insider said the changes had upset the long-serving members of the “Coronation Street” cast, who feared the new characters would get more time on the screen.