Coronation Street legend Charlie Lawson is facing legal action over unpaid debts of £50,000.
The 64-year-old actor, who played Jim McDonald in the ITV soap, opened Prestbury’s Farm Shop in Cheshire with his wife Debbie Stanley 12 years ago. He was often seen behind the counter serving artisan cheese, meat and game.
The business owed £37,000 when it went bust in 2018 and now owes a further £10,000 to liquidators and solicitors. Cash was owed to a turkey farm, wine suppliers, an energy company and firms as far afield as France.
The latest documents for the shop show that most of the debts have not been paid, despite solicitors being appointed to collect the outstanding sums.
Within the documents, HMRC state: “During the period of this report, no further monies have been received in respect of the payment of the costs of the liquidation. To date, the sum of £3,160 has been paid and the balance is being pursued. As a response was not received from the guarantor, solicitors have been instructed to collect the amount owed. Based on current information, regrettably, there is little likelihood of any funds being available to pay a distribution to unsecured creditors.”
Helen Flanagan battles to save NYE plans after 'poo explosion' in her carThe firm is in his wife’s name, but Charlie confirmed to the Mirror that he was responsible for the company’s debts. In a statement, he said: “As the Guarantor and not the insolvent, the matter is in hand and ongoing.” He has had financial woes previously. In 2001, he had to declare himself bankrupt, owing almost £200,000 to the Inland Revenue and finance firms.
He first appeared in Corrie in 1989 and was a regular for 11 years, then made brief comebacks between 2003 and 2018. In May, we told how Beverley Callard, 67, who played his on-screen wife Liz in Corrie, owed HMRC £100,000 after her firm JMBJ Limited went bust.