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EastEnders actor defends rival soap amid budget cuts and cast exodus as he predicts Coronation Street’s future
The star spoke out to defend the rival soap amid a crisis on the cobbles
EASTENDERS star Jamie Borthwick has defended rival soap Coronation Street amid a crisis on the cobbles.
The ITV soap has been mired in troubles with multiple actors quitting or being axed from the show, a cash crisis at ITV and fan revolts.
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Now Jamie, who is appearing in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing live tour, has opened up about EastEnders success - and why Corrie will be back on top soon.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, he said: “I feel like with the soaps, they all have peaks and troughs.
“They all have moments of up, moments of down. You're going to get that with longevity. But that's one thing that they have is longevity.
“How long has Corrie been on? 62 years I think.
Read more on Coronation Street
“It's an amazing show. It's an institution. And I feel like to be a part of that institution - and obviously EastEnders joined a lot later and what we’ve achieved in our 40 years.
“And they're amazing shows and they're in the fabric of the country.”
Jamie will tour 30 cities across the UK for the Strictly Come Dancing Tour, alongside stars such as Wynne Evans, Tasha Ghouri, Sarah Hadland and JB Gill.
He added: “I feel like they always will have a place there.
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“But as I say, peaks and troughs. We're on a good run and have been for a while. I'm sure we'll go back round the other way and that's just how it goes with longevity.
Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson says cast are underpaid
“It's one thing that they have over many other genres that have been going forever.
“Listen, Corrie’s an amazing show, it’s brilliant and the people on it are great.”
The kind comments will no doubt come as a relief to Corrie bosses as they cope with the on-going crisis.
This comes after Sally Ann Matthews, who plays Jenny Bradley on the ITV soap Coronation Street, said that ITV is struggling financially.
Amid this, some soap fans reckon that if it comes down to it, ITV would axe Emmerdale in a bid to save the Manchester-based soap opera.
- Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour opens in Birmingham on Friday January 17 for the first night of 30 shows across the UK
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Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025
ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.
This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.
Colson Smith - Craig Tinker
The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig's on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.
Sue Cleaver - Eileen Grimshaw
After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I'm A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she's already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.
Luca Toolan - Mason Radcliffe
Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.
Sue Devaney - Debbie Webster
In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.
Charlotte Jordan - Daisy Midgeley
The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she's hungry to see what other opportunities await.
Shelley King - Yasmeen Metcalfe
The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.
"If it came down to it, ITV would sacrifice Emmerdale to save Corrie," one fan penned in a soap forum.
"Emmerdale would go first as the sacrificial lamb," said another.
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