Bev breaks silence at dance rule
CORONATION Street’s Beverley Callard claimed stars of the ITV soap have been banned from appearing on BBC One’s Strictly.
The actress, who plays Liz McDonald, admitted she is frustrated by the order as she is a massive fan of the ballroom dancing contest.
Beverley, 59, revealed the rule in a Twitter chat with fans, messaging: “I absolutely love Strictly!”'
Asked if she would like to take part, she replied: “Oh I’d love to. We’re not allowed.”
Beverley is the first Corrie star to admit the soap’s disapproval of Strictly.
Four years ago, former Corrie star Michelle Keegan had been tipped to join the line-up but never appeared.
ITV chiefs did not comment at the time but a source on the soap said then: “It’s a no-brainer for us.
“Why would we allow cast members time off to go to film a show for a rival channel?”
The source said the BBC’s offer to Michelle “never got off the ground” because “we wouldn’t release her from her contract”.
“That goes for everyone else in the cast – but we are more open when it comes to ITV shows,” the source added.
After quitting Corrie two years ago Michelle, 29, defected to the BBC and has since starred in hit dramas Ordinary Lies and Our Girl.
Last night a Corrie spokesman said: “Our cast do appear on BBC shows but where possible we give precedence to ITV programmes.”
It is not the first time Corrie bosses have got tough with the cast. They imposed a mobile phone ban after stars posted photos showing the inside of the new Rovers Return.
And earlier this year the cast were livid when bosses told them not to take panto work.