Soap stars who went bankrupt – Corrie legend, King of the Jungle to rom com icon
A starring role on a UK soap opera is considered to be a dream position.
Celebrities ascend to national popularity when they appear on screen most evenings thanks to shows like EastEnders, Coronation Street, and Emmerdale, which are staples in the UK.
However, despite being well-known, many soap opera stars have struggled both during and after their roles.
Here are some of the soap opera stars that filed for bankruptcy, from former King of the Jungle Joe Swash to iconic rom-com star Martine McCutcheon.
Joe Swash
When Joe Swash was cast as the upbeat Micky Miller on EastEnders, he quickly became well-known.
The actor, now 40, started portraying the endearing bad guy in the serial opera in 2003. He stayed there for five years before being violently fired in 2008.
Despite winning the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! competition, Joe had to file for bankruptcy that same year, and a few months later.
“The worst thing I could have done was to bury my head in the sand after falling behind on my payments and taxes. I should have confronted it “He spoke to The Sun.
When Caroline Flack and later Laura Whitmore were cast as his co-hosts on the I’m A Celeb spin-off show Get Me Out of Here, Now!, Joe’s situation began to improve.
However, four years later, Joe declared a second bankruptcy.
The actor has subsequently made a complete turn around and is ecstatic to be with his wife Stacey Solomon and their children.
Michael Le Vell
Since 1983, Michael Le Vell has continued to play Kevin Webster, the garage owner, in Coronation Street.
The 54-year-old celebrity, who supposedly earned £250,000 for his part in an ITV soap opera, was declared bankrupt in 2018.
The collapse of his marriage to Janette Beverly in 2011 marked the start of his financial difficulties.
Two years later, the actor paid £200,000 in legal costs for a trial involving allegations of child abuse, which he ultimately won.
According to reports, he neglected to manage his tax obligations and owed Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs a massive six-figure sum.
Wil Johnson
From 2012 until 2014, Will Johnson portrayed Dom Andrews on Emmerdale.
The 57-year-old actor was declared bankrupt a second time in 2014 due to financial difficulties that existed before he was cast in the ITV serial opera.
The father of seven officially left the soap opera not long after it was announced that he filed for bankruptcy as a result of unpaid bills.
I’ve had a lovely experience playing Dom Andrews, but like most things, you have to know when to leave the building, ideally on a high note, he stated at the time.
Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon, an icon of EastEnders, gained fame for four years, from 1993 to 1999, playing Tiffany Mitchell on the BBC soap opera.
The 46-year-old actress filed for insolvency at a London court in 2013 and was subsequently pronounced bankrupt.
At the height of her career, the Love Actually actress was considered to be worth $2 million, but after she was declared bankrupt, her $25,000 engagement ring from future husband Jack McManus was also stolen.
The former soap star stated, “I just felt my health, money, and career had all been snatched from me, and now even my engagement ring – the one thing that defines what is solid in my life – has gone,” in a statement made in 2016.
Ryan Thomas
Ryan Thomas, an ex-Coronation Street actor, is another soap star who has struggled financially in the past despite his widespread acclaim.
The actor was slammed with a £40,000 tax penalty back in 2013. The actor had portrayed Jason Grimshaw in the ITV soap for 16 years, from 2001 to 2016.
After allegedly squandering his soap money on an expensive lifestyle, the celebrity was unable to pay it.
The 38-year-old was able to pay it all back and entirely turn his life around despite filing for bankruptcy.
The former soap actress, who allegedly earned a staggering £500,000 after participating in Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, is now thought to be worth approximately £1 million.
