Corrie stars face the chop

A number of Coronation Street stars could be axed amid press reports that the soap's new boss is planning to slash the number of cast members currentl

16:32 17 September 2005

A number of Coronation Street stars could be axed amid press reports that the soap's new boss is planning to slash the number of cast members currently walking the streets of Wetherfield.

Both big names and newcomers could become the victims of the Corrie cull planned by tough new producer Steve Frost, who replaces outgoing supremo Tony Wood at the end of the year.

Stars reported to be in the firing line include Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Sutherland, Steven Arnold, otherwise known as Ashley Peacock and his screen-wife Claire (Julie Haworth).

The Corrie clear out could also see Frankie Baldwin (Debra Stephenson) and stepson Jamie (Rupert Hill) leave Wetherfield along with corner shop magnate Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin) and wife Sunita (Shobna Gulati).

Newcomers under threat allegedly include mechanic Nathan Harding (Ray Fearon) and factory twins Jessie and Joanne (Nailah Cumberbatch and Zaraah Abrahams).

"Those departing will still be around for a while, but there looks to be blood on the walls next year and it won't make for nice reading for the cast," a Corrie source told the Daily Mirror.

"They know their futures are being discussed by the people that really matter. If there is a feeling they have run their course, then sadly the end is not far away."

New Corrie boss Frost was dubbed the axeman after ending the contracts of a number of big name stars while in charge of ITV1's second soap Emmerdale, the Sun reports.