Coronation Street star now working in coffee van after huge blow to acting career
Coronation Street veteran Charlie Lawson, who was once a household name as volatile Jim McDonald, has revealed he's now working part-time in a coffee van after his acting jobs have become few and far between.
The 65-year-old actor, who made his Coronation Street debut in 1989 and portrayed the iconic father of Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), recently posted a video on X showing him on shift at the Bridge 19 café, located along the Macclesfield Canal.
In the video, Lawson says: "Well folks, welcome to Bridge 19 café, which is on the Macclesfield Canal, going north something or other. Saturdays and Sundays, from breakfast time early in the morning until two o'clock." It comes after Coronation Street legend Sarah Platt was dealt a devastating blow as her exit is 'sealed'.
He adds with a smile: "I'm here sometimes, cooking for you so you can get a selfie and all that sort of craic as well."
The café gig marks a stark contrast to the fame Lawson enjoyed during his years on Coronation Street, where his character's fiery relationship with on-screen wife Liz (played by Beverley Callard) became a central storyline.
Although he officially left the show in 2000, Lawson returned for short appearances, the last one being in 2018.
However, his recent candour about his professional struggles paints a sobering picture of life post-soap stardom.
Speaking on The Nolan Show, he said: "2024 is the most unsuccessful year I've had in 44 years. And there are a lot of issues to do with that. I've got lots of white hair, I'm 64 and there are less parts around."
He went on to describe the financial pressures he now faces, particularly in the current economic climate.
At the time, he said: "I work for GB News at the moment and I've got to renegotiate that contract next year and my wife Debbie runs a women's refuge.
"I'm in the living room with my shooting gear on because I'm a field sportsman and because I can't have the heat on all day and it's Baltic over here. Have you looked at your bills?"
Lawson's openness has resonated with many fans, who took to social media to show their support. One follower replied to his video: "Keep up the great work Charlie."
Another echoed: "Fair play to you Charlie. Loving this new life for you. Whatever makes you happy."
Despite the dramatic change in lifestyle, Lawson remains upbeat and his very much embracing his new role behind the coffee counter after his success as soap legend Jim McDonald.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
Dead body horror in Coronation Street as the lid is ripped off a coffin
Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews) has to confront some scary sights in upcoming Coronation Street episodes, and only one of them is a dead body. Perhaps more terrifyingly, the other is her old enemy Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins). Jenny no doubt hoped she'd seen the last of Christina earlier this year. She had returned to Weatherfield to help her daughter, Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan), get revenge on Jenny. They came up with a plan to catfish Jenny, using someone called Dom as bait to get to know Jenny on a dating app and then con her out of her money. Daisy eventually discovered that her mother was also trying to double cross her when she found out that Dom was actually Christina's partner, and tipped Jenny off. After the resulting showdown in the Rovers, Christina was arrested. With Daisy having departed Weatherfield, there seems to be no reason for Jenny's and Christina's paths to cross, so Jenny is gobsmacked to see her enemy in the Rovers looking for George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley). Jenny has recently taken a fancy to the eligible undertaker herself, after he impressed her by fixing a leaky pipe at the Kabin, so she's not best pleased to hear that Christina is looking for him. However, Christina insists she's only interested in George for his professional services. Her partner Dom has died and she wants to arrange his funeral. More Trending Jenny is suspicious about whether this is true, and a conversation with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) only makes her believe more strongly that Christina is up to something. She thinks the story about Dom dying is just a ruse so Christina can get close to George. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! Wanting to save George from himself and, more urgently, from Christina, Jenny marches into the undertakers' and tells George not to trust Christina. She says she's only after his money and Dom isn't even dead. And to prove it, as George and Christina look on in horror, she goes over to the coffin and pulls the lid off. View More » What will she find? Dearly departed Dom, or Christina up to her old tricks yet again? MORE: All spoilers for Coronation Street next week as a major character says goodbye MORE: Coronation Street fans rejoice over return of legendary show feature MORE: All 22 Coronation Street pictures for next week as one character reaches breaking point
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Coronation Street's Kevin Webster dealt with heartbreaking deceit amid Abi's affair
Coronation Street's Kevin Webster has been dealt with heartbreaking deceit as Abi told him a huge lie so she could take her affair with his brother to the next level Kevin Webster was dealt with a major deceit at the hands of his own wife on Wednesday night's episode of Coronation Street. The legendary character, who has been played by Michael Le Vell since 1983, is currently married to fellow mechanic Abi (Sally Carman), but he is unaware that she is currently having an affair with his brother Carl. Viewers will know that Abi tried to conceal her feelings for Carl (Jonathan Howard) for several months whilst her husband fought cancer. But when she discovered that Kevin had been lying to her and had not told her he had received the all-clear, she decided to put the affair into motion. Things took a dramatic turn in the latest instalment of the world's longest-running soap when Abi took things to the next step with her tryst. Over the last few weeks, Kevin has been arranging a holiday abroad for his wife, his teenage son Jack and Abi's young son Alfie. There are also plans for Kevin's daughter Sophie (Brooke Vincent), who left the programme in 2019, to join them once they are out there. But to add to the complications of the situation, Carl has been seeing Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) in recent days, and she began to smell a rat. When Tracy and Carl went for drinks at the Chariot Square Hotel, she spotted something was up and said: "I knew it. Let me guess. She wears overalls and stinks of engine oil. It's Abi, isn't it? She was really put out when I invited you for drinks. She's pretty fit, I reckon Kevin doesn't ring her bell. Whereas his sexy younger brother..." Meanwhile, Abi had started to go mad over the thought of going a whole fortnight without her secret lover and decided to put a plan of action into place. She told Carl on a voicemail: "Carl, it's me. I'm just here packing for this holiday and I'm dreading it. I can't face the thought of not seeing you for two whole weeks and putting an act on with Kevin. I know it's what we agreed but now it's actually happening...I just wanna be with you." Feigning that she had lost her passport, she convinced Kevin that she would join them on holiday in the next few days once she had paid extra to have a new one issued via the premium service. Kevin, who was previously married to Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor) acquiesced that this was the only solution to the problem. However, he was still completely unaware that Abi had other plans entirely. Once Kevin and the children had headed off on holiday, Abi invited Carl straight round to number 13, and gleefully showed him her passport, which was never lost, as she moved him in for a few days. Carl appeared to have thrown Tracy off the scent earlier and told her that the 'other woman' in question was an ex from Germany, where he grew up, who now lives in Wales. Abi joked: "I don't like the idea of your German ex, even a made up one to which Carl said: "I'm not sure I like the idea of you sleeping with Kevin." Abi reasoned: "Well, for the next few days, I'll be sleeping with you. I'll be living with you, we can do what we want, when we want. And if you're still worried I'm not totally committed to you, then let me show you." The two shared a passionate kiss as Abi began to remove Carl's shirt, but fans will know that even though Carl thinks he has convinced Tracy otherwise, she is still suspicious of the pair. Actress Sally was asked what what is coming up for the storyline, during an appearance on This Morning, and while she didn't say too much, she did reveal that one long-resident in particular is set to get involved in the whole saga. She told hosts Andi Peters and Emma Willis: "Two words. Tracy Barlow." It's not yet known how Tracy will react to the whole situation as she discovers more about what is going on, and, given her reputation of falling out with fellow Weatherfield residents, it seems likely that a feud could ignite between the pair. Sally also revealed that, in real life, her character's decisions have left her at the mercy of the public, who cannot bear to see her cheating on Kevin. She said: "You cannot mess with Kevin Webster, I have been handbagged in the street. People are not help with me. And Mike Le Vell, absolute legend, absolute dreamboat. I'm Team Kev!"
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Coronation Street fans 'rumble Costello's link to Becky's death' after clue
Coronation Street aired more hints about the mystery surrounding DI Costello on the ITV soap on Wednesday, as Kit Green pressed him for answers about something he's hiding There seemed to be massive hints during Wednesday's Coronation Street about what DI Costello was hiding, and whether it was linked to late police officer Becky Swain. Lisa Swain's late wife died years earlier, before she was on the show. Recently there's been a few questions raised about Becky, and whether she was a corrupt officer. Not only that, but Lisa feared something was going on that may have led to her death, with Becky hit by a car driven by the Radcliffe brothers. As will as hints from Logan Radcliffe about Becky and what went on, including a mystery person called Tia Wardley being mentioned which led to Logan seemingly being attacked and silenced, we've seen DI Costello acting strangely over some police files. Both Lisa and colleague Kit Green have separately tried to access files linked to a case Becky was working on before her death. Costello has been keen to stop them both snooping, even putting Kit on desk duty while claiming it's down to a complaint made against him. Kit appeared to see right through him though, before making it abundantly clear he may have something on him. Costello made it seem as though he was doing Kit a favour, telling him: "Trust me, it's what is best for us. Stick to the story and we will get through this." When Lisa quizzed Kit about the move, confused given it was blamed on Kit's injuries, she didn't get any answers. Instead she got attitude, but later on Kit made his thoughts clear. He told Lisa that Costello was up to something and couldn't be trusted. Kit couldn't make sense of Costello covering for him, and his claims about why he'd put him on desk duty, while Lisa commented that it could have been worse for him given what he'd been accused of. Conversation then turned back to Becky's files, as Lisa asked him why he was wanting to read them. He refused to tell her before accusing her of being obsessed with the files. Further into the episode, Costello asked to speak to Kit who claimed he was "spooked" after he looked into him. Costello told him he didn't want him to lose his way in the force, saying he was a "good cop" and that he punished him this way "for him". As Kit asked why he didn't just get rid of him, Costello warned that if he carried on the way he was then he'd be out. But it was then very clear that Kit knew something about Costello, as he made light of the situation. Costello snapped, telling him to remember who he was talking to and saying: "I'm a man of integrity. I have nothing to hide." But Kit, smirking, simply replied: "That's not strictly true that, is it?" As he got up to leave Costello sternly warned him: "Tread carefully DC Green." So it's clear Kit has something on him, but what is it and what is Costello hiding? Fans think the constant references to Becky and those files will mean Costello knows what she was looking into and perhaps is linked to her death, maybe even orchestrating it. Taking to social media, one fan said: "The closer we get to the park scene, the more convinced I am that it's the fallout from discovering Costello's hand in Becky's death." Another fan asked: "Why do I think that Kit gonna find out a lot more about Costello and Becky???" A third fan posted: "I think Corrie will go the route of Costello being involved in Becky's death and Kit won't let it go. He'll uncover something and tell Lisa which will lead to the park stuff and it'll all unravel. Becky's name will be cleared and Lisa will be able to move forward." Another fan said: "New theory is that Costello is the bent one, Becky was on to him so he got her investigated for corruption and got her killed." Get the latest drama from the Dales by joining our Emmerdale WhatsApp group As drama continues to unfold in the Yorkshire Dales, the Mirror has launched its very own Emmerdale WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest breaking news, secrets, and spoilers delivered straight to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
