Strictly no Coronation Street cast

Reports suggest that cast from ITV’s flagship soap opera, Coronation Street, have been ‘banned’ from appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Viewers of Dancing on Ice will have noticed that as far as EastEnders goes its generally always ex-stars of that soap who appear on that show (with very rare exceptions), and it seems – according to The Sun – ITV are to go one step further and make sure no current stars of their long running saga will be able to appear on primetime BBC One entertainment series’.
Michelle Keegan, who plays Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street, had been on the newspapers’ list of top totty to appear in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
ITV executives are said to have been displeased with the suggestion actors from the 51-year-old serial would be given time off to pursue lucrative appearances on a rival channel.

A ‘source’ told The Sun, “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?” adding “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.”

ITV soap stars are however allowed to appear on other productions, as long as they’re on ITV. It isn’t the first time the cast of Coronation Street have been ‘banned’ from appearing on a rival channel. When The Paul O’Grady Show defected from ITV to Channel 4 it was revealed Corrie and Emmerdale’s cast had been blocked from appearing on the talk show.
Celebrities suggested for this years’ Strictly Come Dancing include former ITV favourite, ex–X Factor judge Dannii Minogue and The One Show host and BBC Radio 2 DJ, Chris Evans.
Strictly Come Dancing returns in the autumn on BBC One.