Corrie star Jane Danson lets slip cryptic comment about job security amid mass exits

Coronation Street star Jane Danson, 46, dropped a mysterious comment about job security on the show.

Jane has played Leanne Battersby on the ITV soap since 1997, bar a brief break between 2000-2004. Despite being on the show for almost 30 years, the star noted that she’s never felt her role is “secure.” Speaking to This Morning’s soaps expert Sharon Marshall, Jane gushed over her time spent with the Corrie cast, but cryptically suggested no one is safe from cuts.

“We’ve all done life together, you know? And as you say, we’ve been through good times and bad in life, and you know, it’s just lovely having that support. And it’s the most secure job you’ll get in this industry. I never dreamed it would pan out for so long,” she said.

The actress fawned over her closeness with the cast, amid rumours they’re ‘not happy’ with firings and budget cuts

Jane then changed her tune, and explained: “Even when it’s secure it’s never secure, but I’ve been so grateful for it. But you do change massively, and I never would have anticipated being there that long… all the people you meet along the way just enriches your job, and it’s just been a dream.”

Sharon then proclaimed: “Let’s have another 30 years!” Jane laughingly agreed: “Fingers crossed, fingers crossed!”

Jane’s comments come amid rumours that Coronation Street stars are reportedly struggling due to the huge slew of firings among the cast. “There’s a WhatsApp group which has been pinging with messages about concerns of where the axe will fall next. It’s a tough time on the soap and it’s filtering down,” a source told The Sun earlier this month, claiming the cast was in fear of losing their jobs.

The insider added that actors thought the show might fire even more people in order to afford keeping the highest-paid stars in the show. Alongside the smaller cast, life on set is said to be a lot less “fun” that it once was. The insider explained: “Filming is tough. One person moaned they were ‘worked like dogs.’”

Recently, insiders explained that a major budget crisis was behind the cast firings. “Corrie is on its knees financially and bosses are being forced to make hard decisions” thanks to TV production costs soaring while the advertising market funding them has all-but collapsed. “The cast are not happy but ITV have no choice but to slash costs,” a source said.

Despite the worry, an insider told The Mirror that there are big things to come for the show and that it’s a case of “one door closes and another opens” for the show. “Fans can ignore any idea that within a decade the soap will be gone, because it’s in no way on the brink of collapse.

“There’s some really exciting twists ahead for our favourite characters and couples, with a massive stunt that will no doubt bring the drama, as well as some hard-hitting storylines bringing some of soap’s biggest characters to the forefront,” they said.

“It really is a case of one door closes and another opens in that some familiar faces will be leaving, but others will be back – and the new faces could be just what the show needs. There’s so much ahead so the idea the end of Corrie is in sight is bonkers.”