A former Coronation Street star believes that the soap may not have long left on our screens.
Charlie Lawson claims the ITV soap could be axed in ten years due to the rise of streaming services. The actor, best known for playing notorious criminal Jim McDonald from 1989 until 2000, thinks that fans are getting "fed up" of the storylines on the soap and thinks it is causing a drop in viewers.
The Irish actor told the Daily Star: "I was there in the 90s for 11 years and we were getting between 16 and 20 million – and five million (viewers now) is not a lot."
READ MORE: ITV Coronation Street star 'can't cope' after Millie Gibson's huge career update
Charlie added: "In 10 years who knows if we will have a Coronation Street. We're all changing our viewing habits as it is already."
He believes that the quality of the show has gone downhill compared to when he was on it throughout the 90s. Charlie said: "Do I think it was better in the 80s and 90s? I would have to say yes, that's not the cast’s fault.
"It's very hard when you've got 70 people and six episodes to do a week. Good acting is about people talking to each other, it's the spoken word."
The actor also believes that the show will lose viewers due to "politically correct" storylines, including the ongoing issue of Max Turner being groomed by far-right extremists. Charlie said: "People are getting a little bit gobsmacked and fed up with all this."
Speaking of his character Jim, Charlie said he may never return. He said: "Jim wasn't exactly politically correct, never mind woke!"
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