Michael Le Vell, the soap star who plays Coronation Street’s Kevin Webster, has told close friends that he fears he will never return to the Street. The star is due to appear in court again next month and is currently out on bail, but has revealed to friends that he probably will not make a return to Corrie, even if he is found not guilty.
Last week, the actor appeared before Manchester magistrates court for charges of rape and sexual assault relating to a minor over a period from 2001 to 2010. Le Vell has claimed he is innocent of the charges, but Coronation Street has temporarily suspended the star pending the court verdict.
The friend, who spoke to the “Daily Mirror”, claimed Le Vell: “can’t imagine the executives welcoming him back with a big blockbuster storyline after weeks of lurid court details. He believes Kevin could very well be finished and will be quietly sidelined and then written out. He’s only really ever had this one job – and now he fears it could be his last.”
Le Vell last week outside court
The friend also told the paper that Le Vell had been “paralysed by fear” since the charges. He has shut down his facebook and twitter accounts and has withdrawn to his local pub to drown his sorrows.
Despite Le Vell’s worries, ITV have made no statement about the permanent removal of the soap star. When the charges were made, a spokesman commented: “Given the serious nature of these charges, Michael Le Vell will not be appearing in Coronation Street pending the outcome of legal proceedings. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further.”
However, considering the press circus that has followed him over the last few weeks and the fact that he has worked for over 30 years on the street, there can be no doubt that ITV would certainly be worried about his appearance on the show in the future.
