Catherine Tyldesley has become one of the latest famous faces to have been discovered to have used the government's furlough scheme over the last 18 months.
The former Corrie star used taxpayer money to fund her production company from December 2020 to April this year.
Using the furlough scheme, which she was entitled to do so, the 37-year-old and her husband Tom Pitfield boosted their company with up to £10,000 a month using the scheme designed to prevent businesses from folding due to the pandemic.
Companies House accounts show that the couple's company took advantage of the job retention scheme which provides business owners with grants to cover the wages of employees on temporary leave.
Catherine, best known for her role as Eva Price on the ITV soap Coronation Street, has remained in the public eye over the last 18 months, working throughout the pandemic.
Earlier this year, the mum-of-two appeared in ITV's drama series Viewpoint, with the final episode airing exclusively on online due to the harassment allegations against co-star Noel Clarke coming to light.
The star also graced our television screens earlier this week, becoming one of the latest celebrities to take part in the new culinary challenge show, Cooking with the Stars.
While the government's job retention scheme, also referred to as furlough, has been a lifeline for many small, independent businesses, there is a strong feeling amongst the public that large corporations and rich celebrities shouldn't take advantage of the grants funded by taxpayers money.
Last month Giovanna Fletcher and McFly singer Tom Fletcher were forced to apologise to fans after being exposed as using the publicly funded scheme to pay one of her employees, despite being worth an estimated £8 million.
In June, the I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! winner took to Instagram to explain her and her husband's "error of judgement" before saying that they have paid back the funds.
"While parts of the article were inaccurate (including all of the figures mentioned), it is true that we did follow financial advice to furlough someone we employ," the mum-of-three explained in part of her statement.
"Although it was a time of great uncertainty, we clearly should have thought more about the situation and funded it ourselves", she explained.
"It was a huge error of judgement and a mistake we wholeheartedly take responsibility for and we have paid the full amount back."
Catherine and Giovanna aren't the only celebrities to have turned to the state for help during the pandemic and multiple lockdowns.
Charlotte Crosby, Shane Richie and Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas are just. a few other famous famous who have claimed money on the UK's furlough scheme since it was introduced in March 2020.
John O’Connell, from the TaxPayers’ Alliance has discussed the scheme's impact, saying: “It is understandable that some businesses furloughed staff given the unprecedented circumstances of the past year.
“However, covid had a massive impact upon the economy and now every penny really does count.
“Some businesses have repaid the support offered to them by taxpayers."
