Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell has signed a new deal that will take his stint on the ITV soap to almost four decades.
His contract, thought to be worth £275,000 a year, means his character Kevin Webster will be in next year’s live episode for Corrie’s 60th anniversary.
Only Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, Barbara Knox as shop boss Rita Fairclough, Emily Bishop star Eileen Derbyshire and Sue Nicholls - Audrey Roberts - have been in Weatherfield for longer.
An ITV source said: “Michael doesn’t really know where the time has gone. He’s looked round and suddenly he’s one of the show’s veterans.”
Michael, 54, first appeared in the soap in 1981 as a paper boy and landed the role of mechanic Kev in 1983.
He bounced back after being cleared of rape in 2013 and battling drink and drug problems the following year.
It comes Michael celebrated the end of bankruptcy proceedings against him at the start of the year.
After 12 months of being broke, in which he was forced to sell his £750,000 Cheshire home, as debts brought about by his divorce from actress Janette Beverley spiralled out of control.
Michael had his account frozen while he fought bankruptcy in courts.
With that stress now lifted from his life, the father-of-two has started to live life again following a few years when he has bit hit by a number of career-threatening accusations.
He had been arrested in 2011 following sexual assault allegations but was discharged after there was 'no case to answer'.
A couple years later, he was rearrested for a number of offences, including rape, but Michael was relieved to have been cleared by jury at Manchester Crown Court.
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