ITV Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson says soap…

ITV Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson says soap might not exist in 10 years and that 'it was better in the 80s'

An ITV Coronation Street star reckons the soap could be axed in a decade thanks to the rise of streaming services.

Charlie Lawson, who played Jim McDonald in the show, also claimed that viewing figures could have dropped as fans are getting "fed up" with the storylines on the soap. Charlie, 63, played the notorious criminal from 1989 until 2000 and has made brief cameos since he left the famous Manchester cobbles - but he believes time could be up.

The Irish actor, who is no stranger when it comes to sharing his views, said: "I was there in the 90s for 11 years and we were getting between 16 and 20 million – and 5 million (viewers now) is not a lot. In 10 years who knows if we will have a Coronation Street, we're all changing our viewing habits as it is already."

He 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, reports the Mirror. Charlie said: "People are getting a little bit gobsmacked and fed up with all this," before adding that political correctness is a reason he may not make a return to Weatherfield.

But Charlie also believes that the acting and the script writing during his time on the fan favourite soap was better than today.

The Jim McDonald actor believes the soap peaked in the 90s (ITV)

He told the Daily Star : "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 recently became embroiled in a heated exchange as he slammed Just Stop Oil protesters who have recently brought parts of the country to a standstill. While appearing on GB News, Charlie discussed the protesters who have also spray painted several buildings and defaced statues – including pouring excrement over a statue of the late Sir Tom Moore.

Charlie quipped: "This is starting to wind me up and also I have to say funnily enough the quality of protesters. I mean these people in Kensington or wherever it was today.

"They are a bunch of time-wasting professionals," while adding that they should face tougher consequences than the ones they have faced, including a suspended sentence.

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