Actor Charlie Lawson has candidly opened up about his financial struggles revealing he is finding it difficult to afford heating for his home this winter.
Best known for his role as Jim McDonald on Coronation Street, the 64-year-old described 2024 as his worst year in his 44-year career in the entertainment industry. He attributes his lack of work to his controversial political views, which he believes have limited his opportunities.
Lawson’s financial challenges worsened when his wife Debbie had to close her Cheshire farm shop last year, leaving the couple facing nearly £50,000 in unpaid debts and legal actions.
Speaking on The Nolan Show, the Irish actor admitted: “2024 is the most unsuccessful year I’ve had in 44 years. There are a lot of reasons for that. I’ve got lots of white hair, I’m 64, and there are fewer parts available.”
When asked how he manages to pay his bills, Lawson explained: “I work for GB News at the moment, but I have to renegotiate my contract next year. My wife Debbie manages a women’s refuge, so we do have two incomes coming in, but they’re not huge.”
The actor shared how the couple has been cutting back, including limiting how often they heat their home, reports the Mirror. “I’m sitting in the living room with my shooting gear on because I can’t keep the heat on all day, and it’s Baltic here,” he said. “Last winter, the heat was on all the time; this year, it won’t be.”
Despite their struggles, Lawson acknowledged: “We’re better off than a lot of people. We haven’t been abroad this year, we don’t eat in fancy restaurants, and we’ve adjusted our lifestyle. I live 50 feet from the local bar, The Rodney, so I don’t need a taxi and can just walk there.”
Lawson believes his political views, particularly his anti-trans stance, have contributed to his difficulty finding work. “People in my industry won’t admit it, but your beliefs and what you say on social media do have an impact,” he claimed.
He also criticized Coronation Street and suggested he is unlikely to return to the show. Earlier this month, he claimed the soap “won’t be around in 10 years” and criticized its focus on social issues over character-driven storytelling. “It’s issue-driven now, with a degree of wokery and political correctness, whereas in my day, it was character-driven,” he remarked.
Lawson also predicted the decline of other long-running soaps, including EastEnders a nd Emmerdale, blaming declining advertising revenue and reduced viewership. “It’s nothing like the 15 to 21 million viewers we used to get. People dip in and out now,” he said.
The actor further highlighted the pay disparity for British actors compared to their counterparts abroad. “If you were doing a show like Coronation Street in America, you’d be buying your own vineyard,” he said, noting how poorly paid young actors in the UK are. “In Canada, the starting Equity minimum was about £300 a week more than ours. Actors in this country have been treated poorly for years.”
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