23 February 2024 , 17:21
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Coronation Street star Bill Roache is raking in thousands of pounds a week filming shout-outs to fans as he battles bankruptcy.
The soap legend is on two sites selling video messages for up to £51 a time to delighted fans. He has 185 five-star reviews on the Cameo platform and so far, this month he has racked up eight testimonials from satisfied customers for his £51 videos. But his earnings are likely to be far higher as typically only around a quarter of customers leave reviews.
One said this week: “Bill was the perfect professional and turned the video round in less than 24 hours. He added a great combination of humour and friendliness. A gentleman.” In another recent video he told a woman turning 60: “I don’t worry about the numbers. Think about how you feel and I bet you feel a lot younger than the numbers say.
“You know 60 is still very, very young. In fact, when I was 70 I decided I was going to get younger every year so I think I’m about 50 now.” Bill, 91, charges £45 on the Celeb VM site and tells fans: “I find it wonderful to be part of making somebody’s day. I’ll send a message to anyone about anything at all.”
Bill Roache will record you or your loved ones a message - at a priceSatisfied customer Carole wrote: “We haven't shown the video to my mum yet as it's not her birthday for a few weeks, but she will absolutely love it. William did a great job, added some personal touches and my mum will be thrilled. Thanks a lot.” The actor, known to millions as Ken Barlow, is fighting to pay a £546,000 tax bill.
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You can now pay to have a personalised message from one of the country's best known facesIt is understood that Bill, 91, who has played Ken Barlow since 1960, earns about £250,000 a year and is the highest paid cast member. In 2018 the Mirror told how the star faced a huge bill after investing in a £500million tax avoidance scheme. It was unknown how much he had invested in Twofold First Services LLP, owned by a firm in the Cayman Islands.
Bill is one of the most loved actors on Corrie - but is facing a huge tax bill as he battles bankruptcy (Press Association)He was one of 288 investors who entered the scheme and put in, on average, £1.75million. Papers showed he joined the scheme in March 2012. A HMRC spokesman told the Mirror last month it files for a petition for bankruptcy with the court to obtain a bankruptcy order.
He said: "We might have an outstanding tax debt, if someone refused to engage with us and pay the tax that is due, then as a last resort we will issue a bankruptcy action. That is to recover the tax they owe but, as I say, it is the sort of thing we do as a last resort." A Coronation Street spokesman said: "We're really sorry to hear of Bill's financial situation. He has an ongoing contract with Coronation Street and remains a much-loved member of the cast."