CORRIE’S KEV: ALCOHOLIC TO WORKAHOLIC
He clocks up ‘century’
CORONATION Street star Michael Le Vell has thrown himself into work in a bid to beat his booze addiction.
He clocked up 100 appearances in 2015, making him one of the mostused actors in the ITV soap.
It put him ahead of show veterans Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Tanner, Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) and Eileen Derbyshire (Emily Bishop).
Michael’s century of shows as car mechanic Kevin Webster also puts him in front of fellow Street favourites Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald), and Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw).
The rapid rise in the rankings last year highlights his dedication to his work since a spell in rehab after he confessed to a 12-pint-a-night lager addiction and using cocaine in the run-up to his 2013 sex trial.
After he was acquitted of all charges he went to Alcoholics’ Anonymous to combat his boozing.
Earlier this week Corrie bosses backed him after he shocked guests at a new year party at The Mere Golf Resort in Knutsford, Cheshire, by supping a pint with pals, sparking fears he had fallen off the wagon.
Michael, 51, who has been encouraged to take up horse riding by live-in girlfriend Louise Gibbons, 39, to help keep him sober, declined to discuss it.
But ITV bosses say he “continues to deliver professionally on a daily basis” and has “given us no cause for concern”.
Michael’s comeback was highlighted in an “appearances chart” compiled by soap lovers.
He shot up from the show's 59th mostused star in 2014 to No 21 last year.
The actor with most appearances was Jack P Shepherd, who plays David Platt.
Michael now sits eighth in the league of all-time appearances in the show among the current cast.
His 2,759 falls way short of the 4,274 achieved by William Roache, 83, whose character Ken Barlow featured in its first episode on December 9 1960.