Latest news with #SairKhan
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Coronation Street stars look worlds away from the cobbles as they soak up the sunny weather on boozy night out
THE cast of Coronation Street enjoyed some much-needed down time as they enjoyed a slew of boozy drinks in the sunshine. The stars of the ITV soap opera were out in force in MediaCity in Salford as they hit up their favourite bar for evening drinks in the UK heatwave. 3 3 Just a stone's throw from the show's set, stars including Samia Longchambon and Julia Goulding let their hair down for the mid-week soiree. Maria Connor actress Samia shared a series of snaps from the evening do as she cuddled up to her co-stars. In one photo, she posed alongside her on-screen husband, Mikey North, as she threw her arm around him whilst tightly clutching onto her drink. Poking fun at their characters, she added the caption: "Gaz and Maz on the razz." An hour later, Samia shared another snap of her posing with Shona Platt star Julia and recently axed cast member, Farrel Hagerty. Samia kept things low-key in a loose-fitting white top and a pair of light blue denim jeans. The outing was a chance for the actress to blow off some steam after being at the centre of a backstage cast war. Alongside co-star Sair Khan, the duo have ruffled feathers backstage after show bosses allowed them to accept a series of lucrative offers for Instagram work. The cast are famously outlawed from accepting paid promotions online but Samia and Sair have been allowed to rake in thousands extra after bosses approved a slew of brand deals. Infuriatingly, many of the cast had similar partnerships knocked back with one actress telling The Sun that it had created high tension among the show's set. Coronation Street and Emmerdale announce huge 'crossover' special episode in UK soap first They told us 'It's one rule for the polished PR favourites, and another for the rest of us. 'If you're not part of the golden circle, forget it. 'They wouldn't let most of us even do a teeth-whitening collaboration, meanwhile Samia's out there posing with pastries. 'It's a total p**s take. 'We've been told time and time again: no ads, no endorsements — not so much as a candle on Instagram. 'But then Samia pops up in a full-blown promo for M&S and everyone's just supposed to pretend it's normal? 'People are keeping quiet as they don't want to rock the boat or get the boot but there's a lot of anger. 'Why are some allowed to cash in while the rest of us struggle?' According to internal documents, outside work must be pre-approved, must not conflict with ITV's commercial partners or damage an actor's character's integrity.
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
How the Coronation Street cast cashed-in with big money brand deals – as soap stars go to war over favouritism
THE Coronation Street cast are locked in yet another backstage crisis as morale on the soap continues to plunge into further depths. This week, it was revealed that many of the show's cast members were left fuming with the blatant favouritism of some show stars when it comes to accepting paid partnerships on social media - something usually outlawed by soap execs. 9 9 Glamorous Samia Longchambon and Sair Khan were cleared to take lucrative brand deals — while others were blocked, it has been claimed from one soap actress who spoke out to The Sun Samia, 42, featured in a reel for Marks & Spencer alongside her Dancing on Ice husband Sylvain Longchambon, whilst Sair plugged a posh, £2,500 Italian oven from Bertazzoni. An insider said Samia and Sair's ad deals have angered colleagues, struggling under the soap's budget cuts, who claim to have had similar work offers blocked. One actress, who says she has had two deals knocked back this year, told The Sun: 'It's one rule for the polished PR favourites, and another for the rest of us." This rule has long caused chaos behind the scenes of the soap with many actresses opting to quit the show in order to rake in more than their yearly salary through endorsement deals. Let's take a look at the Weatherfield ladies who managed to cash-in after walking away from the programme for good. Brooke Vincent 9 When Brooke left her role on Coronation Street in 2019, she wasted no time in securing a slew of big-money deals. The former soap star earned a pretty penny when she struck a deal with fashion retailer In The Style for her very own maternity range of clothes. As part of the partnership, Brooke's pregnancy was plastered all over In The Style's marketing endeavours as well as the star doing regular plugs for the range as well as other items sold by the brand. In The Style was famed for its celebrity partnerships and was known for its six and seven-figure deals with stars such as Stacey Solomon, Jacqueline Jossa, Charlotte Crosby and Dani Dyer. Coronation Street legend dies in suicide twist - as death blindsides Weatherfield residents leaving them devastated To this day, Brooke commands a slew of four ann five-figure payouts for her work with brands such as Home Bargains, CurrentBody LED facemasks and a local aesthetics procedure clinic. Helen Flanagan 9 9 Rosie Webster actress Helen Flanagan has never been short of offers when it comes to a slew of commercial work online. The star, who boasts over 1 million followers, can rake in £20,000 per sponsored post. It means with just five Instagram ads a year, Helen could outearn her Coronation Street wage easily. The star has plugged everything from fashion lines to underwear sets to make-up brands to at-home fertility products. She often works with brands such as Ann Summers, Primark and Revamp Professional. Following her appearance on I'm A Celeb All Stars, it was estimated that Helen could earn £500,000 in endorsements alone within two weeks of the show airing. Will Hobson, PR Director at Rise at Seven said: " I'm a Celeb is a show known for boosting a celebrities profile, it's a mainstream show that pulls in millions of viewers every night. "After the series, the most popular celebrities such as Helen Flanagan can be set to earn anywhere between £250-500K extra. This can come from social media deals & endorsements." Lucy Fallon Although Lucy eventually made a comeback to Corrie as Bethany Platt, she originally walked away from the show in order to cash-in with lucrative online deals. Lucy was understood to be bagging close to £100,000 a year during her first stint after becoming an award-winner and a popular star backstage. But she is thought to have made her lost salary back thanks to just ten minutes of work a week. When she first left, she commanded around £2,000-a-post for sharing goods with her then-495,000 followers, say insiders. Her posts include ones on behalf of a bedding firm, a hairdresser and fashion company InTheStyle. Katie McGlynn When Katie left the soap as Sinead Tinker back in 2019, she became one of the first soap stars to make the most of no longer being tied down to Corrie's strict rules. Commercial opportunities on Instagram were at their peak in 2019 and Katie easily began charging top dollar to plug all sorts to her 300,000 fans. Within days of leaving the soap, Katie was hosting adverts for a vegan lip gloss brand. A showbiz insider said at the time: "Coming off the biggest soap in the country with huge social followings they are a dream to companies wanting to reach viewers without spending major amounts on advertising. "Stars can command hundreds of pounds for a quick Instagram story if they're smart. "They could make thousands a month just from some bigger posts." Kym Marsh Former Michelle Connor actress Kym Marsh has also managed to rake in the dough since quitting her role. Kym has become synonymous with Kym meanwhile with sharing posts about furniture brands and gas companies on her own social media. This year, Kym has also been earning money from the Government after they began paying her to promote the Department of Health and Social Care 's No Smoking campaign. Kym disclosed she has received a fee to plug NHS Quit Smoking App and even recorded an advertisement for TV. She has even plugged Parka coats and eyelashes in the process. Ellie Leach When Ellie quit her role as Faye Windass, she immediately took up a spot on Strictly Come Dancing. Whilst the show isn't known for it's big pay-day, Ellie's winning ways saw her in high demand with PR experts estimating that she could rake in a huge £500,000 following the show thanks to carefully organised brand deals. Brand expert Nick Ede previously told The Sun: 'Ellie has a very strong social media following and with her fabulous figure and movie star looks, fashion and beauty brands will be snapping her up for campaigns. 'I can see her earning over half a million in a year with brand deals, personal appearances and presenting and TV roles.'
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Coronation Street star fuels backstage ‘war' with new social media post after row over soap boss ‘favouritism'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CORONATION Street star Sair Khan has fuelled a backstage 'war' with her latest social media post following a row over soap boss 'favouritism'. The Sun revealed yesterday that tensions are brewing on the cash-strapped soap. 6 Coronation Street star Sair Khan has fuelled a backstage 'war' with her latest social media post Credit: Getty 6 She shared an image of some organic diapers for her one-year-old son Credit: Instagram 6 She shares the tot with her partner, Nathan Chilton Credit: Instagram Cast members are believed to be clashing over glamorous and Sair Khan, 37, and Samia Longchambon, 42, being allowed to take lucrative brand deals - while others were barred. Now, Samia has taken to Instagram again with her latest ad. Sharing an image of some organic diapers for her one-year-old son with Nathan Chilton, she wrote on her Story: "Lets give these a go! @purebornfamily. @mumandme_app #gifted." Samia previously featured in a reel for Marks & Spencer alongside her Dancing on Ice husband Sylvain Longchambon, plugging its cafe's seasonal menu. Sair, meanwhile, was allowed to upload a glossy video of a posh, £2,500 Italian oven from Bertazzoni. Strict ITV rules all but ban commercial work for soap talent without pre-approval from executives. An insider said Samia and Sair's ad deals have angered colleagues, struggling under the soap's budget cuts, who claim to have had similar work offers blocked. One actress, who says she has had two deals knocked back this year, told The Sun: 'It's one rule for the polished PR favourites, and another for the rest of us. 'If you're not part of the golden circle, forget it. 'They wouldn't let most of us even do a teeth-whitening collaboration, meanwhile Samia's out there posing with pastries. Sair Khan Returns to Coronation Street! 'It's a total p**s take. 'We've been told time and time again: no ads, no endorsements — not so much as a candle on Instagram. 'But then Samia pops up in a full-blown promo for M&S and everyone's just supposed to pretend it's normal? 'People are keeping quiet as they don't want to rock the boat or get the boot but there's a lot of anger. 'Why are some allowed to cash in while the rest of us struggle?' Samia has played the Street's Maria Connor on and off since 2000 while Sair has portrayed Alya Nazir since 2014. According to internal documents, outside work must be pre-approved, must not conflict with ITV's commercial partners or damage an actor's character's integrity. It comes amid a cash crisis for the long-running soap. We revealed in April how bosses are reducing filming schedules, putting actors on part-time contracts and reworking scenes to stretch airtime to cut costs and raise revenue. A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: 'We do not discuss individual cases, but the cast are aware that all requests for commercial deals go through an approvals process and are dealt with on a case by case basis.' 6 Sair was previously allowed to upload a glossy video of a posh, £2,500 Italian oven from Bertazzoni 6 Samia Longchambon recently featured in a reel for Marks & Spencer Credit: Getty
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Coronation Street star fuels backstage ‘war' with new social media post after row over soap boss ‘favouritism'
CORONATION Street star Sair Khan has fuelled a backstage 'war' with her latest social media post following a row over soap boss 'favouritism'. The Sun revealed yesterday that tensions are brewing on the cash-strapped soap. 6 6 6 Cast members are believed to be clashing over glamorous and Sair Khan, 37, and Samia Longchambon, 42, being allowed to take lucrative brand deals - while others were barred. Now, Samia has taken to Instagram again with her latest ad. Sharing an image of some organic diapers for her one-year-old son with Nathan Chilton, she wrote on her Story: "Lets give these a go! @purebornfamily. @mumandme_app #gifted." Samia previously featured in a reel for Marks & Spencer alongside her Dancing on Ice husband Sylvain Longchambon, plugging its cafe's seasonal menu. Sair, meanwhile, was allowed to upload a glossy video of a posh, £2,500 Italian oven from Bertazzoni. Strict ITV rules all but ban commercial work for soap talent without pre-approval from executives. An insider said Samia and Sair's ad deals have angered colleagues, struggling under the soap's budget cuts, who claim to have had similar work offers blocked. One actress, who says she has had two deals knocked back this year, told The Sun: 'It's one rule for the polished PR favourites, and another for the rest of us. 'If you're not part of the golden circle, forget it. 'They wouldn't let most of us even do a teeth-whitening collaboration, meanwhile Samia's out there posing with pastries. 'It's a total p**s take. 'We've been told time and time again: no ads, no endorsements — not so much as a candle on Instagram. 'But then Samia pops up in a full-blown promo for M&S and everyone's just supposed to pretend it's normal? 'People are keeping quiet as they don't want to rock the boat or get the boot but there's a lot of anger. 'Why are some allowed to cash in while the rest of us struggle?' Samia has played the Street's Maria Connor on and off since 2000 while Sair has portrayed Alya Nazir since 2014. According to internal documents, outside work must be pre-approved, must not conflict with ITV's commercial partners or damage an actor's character's integrity. It comes amid a cash crisis for the long-running soap. We revealed in April how bosses are reducing filming schedules, putting actors on part-time contracts and reworking scenes to stretch airtime to cut costs and raise revenue. A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: 'We do not discuss individual cases, but the cast are aware that all requests for commercial deals go through an approvals process and are dealt with on a case by case basis.' 6 6 6
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside the Corrie wealth gap as feud erupts over ‘favourites'… from megastar worth £6m to legend sued over £250k debt
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S made household names and national treasures over its 65 years on TV. But not all Coronation Street actors are created equally when it comes to fame and fortune, and - behind the scenes - there's starting to be backlash. 14 Corrie star Samia Longchambon has been accused of receiving preferential treatment from ITV, after being permitted to film a promo reel for M&S Credit: Getty 14 Sair Khan has also been allowed to sign brand deals - bumping her earning potential off the cobbles Credit: Getty 14 Already worth £6m, Jack P. Shepherd's Celebrity Big Brother has boosted his earning potential even more Credit: Rex As the Sun has reported, a war has erupted on the cobbles regarding the earning potential and financial restrictions placed on stars on set. And what makes the issue so much tenser is the fact that the soap is currently undergoing massive budgetary cuts. According to insiders, high earners on set are noticing that their scenes are being cut or limited, to make way for 'cheaper' actors, or younger stars who are new to the industry, so earn less per episode. Amid the financial struggles of the UK's longest-running soap, many beloved faces are walking away from the cobbles for good, including Sue Cleaver, aka Eileen Grimshaw, and Charlotte Jordan, otherwise known as Daisy Midgeley. According to insiders, the issue is a matter of inconsistency: not only is there massive disparity between salaries on set, but many stars are paid per episode, meaning they're beholden to whatever storyline they're given. In the face of escalating costs and in a bid to save money, the soap is starting to cut scenes and limit screen times of the most expensive, more established stars. And without equal access to promo work outside the show, there's a massive feud brewing. As it stands, ITV must pre-approve any paid endorsements and commercial deals signed by its Corrie stars. However, while many requests are rejected straight out the gate, some of the show's 'favourites' are getting some nice little cash flows on the side. Take Samia Longchambon, who plays Maria Connor. She was recently featured in a promo reel for Marks & Spencer's cafe, alongside her Dancing on Ice husband, Sylvain Longchambon. Watch the moment Coronation Street favourite quits the Cobbles in emotional goodbye - before shock twist There's also actress Sair Khan, aka Akya Nazir, who was recently allowed to promote an Italian oven from brand Bertazzoni - worth £2,500 - on her social media. Word inside the camp is that other colleagues are struggling to make ends meet, and it doesn't help that they're having their own promo offers blocked. As one actress on set recently told The Sun: 'It's one rule for the polished PR favourites, and another for the rest of us. 'If you're not part of the golden circle, forget it.' So, who are the ones breaking bank behind the scenes on the famous cobbles? And who are the actors falling short? High earners One big winner this year is Jack P. Shepherd, who's starred as David Platt since joining the show aged 12 in 2000. Over the years, he's risen to be one of the highest earners, raking in a reported £250,000. According to several reports, the actor is now worth £6million. But this year, he's had an even bigger financial boost, after starring on Celebrity Big Brother - and going on to win the show. As was reported at the time, Jack's £100,000 CBB salary didn't quite match the high earnings of some of his fellow housemates, including Mickey Rourke, who did initially stand to earn £500,000, before having his fee slashed after he was kicked off the show for bad behaviour. 14 Samia Longchambon and Jack P. Shepherd are two of the supposed "favourites" who are raking in big money on and off set Credit: Instagram 14 Alan Halsall is also making big money, after coming in sixth in last year's I'm A Celebrity Credit: ITV 14 Barbara Knox (pictured with William Russell in 1992) is another high earner Credit: Rex But the fact that Jack won the whole thing last month, receiving 37.37 per cent of the votes, has opened the doors to whole new cash streams, with brands bidding to work with him. He's also had a boost to his online following, which also equates to higher earnings. With 492k followers, the actor could potentially earn between £1,500 and £2,200 per sponsored post. Nothing's been confirmed yet when it comes to brand deals, but it's unlikely that ITV would block any possible ventures he's got going on the outside, considering what a popular asset he is to the show. Keeping him on side is even more vital, considering the fact that many other stars are leaving the set for new opportunities. Likewise, actor Alan Halsall has found his golden goose as series regular Tyrone Dobbs, which is a role he's played since 1998. If you're not part of the golden circle, forget it Unnamed Corrie actress The 42-year-old reportedly earns £100,000 for his work on set. This may not rival Jack's pay packet, but Alan doubled down on his earning potential after entering the I'm A Celebrity jungle last year. He is said to have earned somewhere between £75,000 and £100,000 - ultimately finishing in sixth place. Again, this elevated him to a higher status in TV land, as show bosses can't help but recognise that he's another valuable asset to the franchise. It's therefore unlikely that he'd have some brand deals blocked as one of the show favourites. Other big earners up in Weatherfield include Barbara Knox, who - aged 91 - has signed a one-year deal, worth a reported £200,000, to ensure her beloved character Rita Tanner remains on the show until 2026. 14 Bill Roache may be the show's longest running - and highest paid - star, but he faced bankruptcy last year Credit: Rex 14 Barbara Knox and Bill Roache have both seen their salaries grow since joining Corrie in the 1960s Credit: Rex 14 Michael Le Vell, in character as Kevin Webster, is one of the show's highest paid stars Credit: ITV There's also Michael Le Vell, who reportedly earns £170,000 to play the show's longstanding mechanic Kevin Webster. Yet despite the sizeable pay packets, some of the show's most beloved stars haven't been without their financial hardships. Money troubles Corrie legend Bill Roache is, undoubtedly, one of its highest earners - and also holds the title of the show's longest-running star, having first stepped onto the cobbles when it was first broadcast in 1960. It's no surprise, then, that he's also its highest earner - raking in over £250,000 for his role as Ken Barlow. Still, the actor faced financial ruin last year, after narrowly avoiding bankruptcy. The now 93-year-old had previously invested in a business venture in the Cayman Islands, which HMRC believed to be part of a tax avoidance scheme. He was duly ordered to pay off £550,000 within 12 weeks - under the threat that, if he failed to do so, he'd have to declare bankruptcy. This came 25 years after the actor was previously declared bankrupt in 1999. Thankfully for him, his second financial scare wasn't as damaging. After a hearing last year, the case was dismissed, and he was ultimately slapped with legal fees of just £1,129.20. The actor is now believed to be worth around £3.9million. 14 Simon Gregson is currently paying off over £250,000 in debt, after his company went bankrupt Credit: Rex 14 The actor had borrowed money from his company, which went into liquidation in 2023 Credit: Mirrorpix Meanwhile, Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald on the ITV show, was forced to liquidate his company, Simon Gregson Productions Ltd, in 2023 amid mounting debts. The 50-year-old, who reportedly earns £150,000 on the show, had previously borrowed money from the company - which he was then ordered to repay £1,500 per month. If he and his wife, Emma, ultimately fail to make the repayments - to the sum of £252,83 - within three years, they've been told they'll be forced to sell their family home. Cutting costs With so much disparity between the personal fortunes of Corrie's stars, it's no surprise that a storm is now brewing behind the scenes, especially since bosses are keen to cut costs as much as possible. As we previously revealed, ITV bigwigs have reduced filming schedules of some stars, following a massive loss of funding. In an attempt to claw back some money, bosses also previously applied to trademark the 'Corrie' brand, which would allow them to sell items to fans including toiletries, cosmetics, soaps and perfumes. But that's not enough to keep the beloved soap afloat, and other drastic action has been taken. They wouldn't let most of us even do a teeth-whitening collaboration, meanwhile Samia's out here posing with pastries. Unnamed Corrie actress Some actors have reportedly been put on part-time contracts, meaning they're paid per episode, and have also seen their filming schedules reduced. While big names could expect to earn up to £2,000 per episode, other lesser known actors, with new roles, might make as little as £400 for an appearance - making them a more affordable choice. As we've revealed, there's already been a mass exodus of stars. 14 Charlotte Jordan has been part of the exodus of stars leaving Corrie Credit: ITV 14 Samia Longchambon's M&S promo - alongside her husband, Sylvain - has caused outrage among her co-stars Credit: Instagram 14 Insiders say there's now fighting behind the scenes as stars vie for equal treatment and pay Credit: Rex As well as Sue Cleaver and Charlotte Jordan, the likes of Colson Smith, who plays Craig Tinker, Shelley King, aka Yasmeen Metcalfe, and Sue Devaney, otherwise known as Debbie Webster, are also making their exits. Of course, they could simply be seeking adventures new, but insiders say the real reason is that the money simply isn't cutting it on set, especially amid budget cuts. A Coronation Street spokesperson has said: 'We do not discuss individual cases, but the cast are aware that all requests for commercial deals go through an approvals process and are dealt with on a case by case basis.' But according to the unnamed actress, who's had her own deals blocked, there's a clear sense of preferential treatment on set. She told the Sun: 'They wouldn't let most of us even do a teeth-whitening collaboration, meanwhile Samia's out here posing with pastries. It's a total p**s take. 'We've been told time and time again: no ads, no endorsements - not so much as a candle on Instagram. 'But then Samia pops up in a full-blown promo for M&S and everyone's just supposed to pretend it's normal? 'People are keeping quiet as they don't want to rock the boat or get the boot, but there's a lot of anger.' She added: 'Why are some allowed to cash in, while the rest of us struggle?'
