Ex Corrie star Charlie says show needs to attract younger viewers to stay relevant (Image: Getty)
Former actor says the soap needs to work on attracting young viewers if they want to stay relevant.
The star – who played Marcus Dent from 2007–2008 and then again from 2011–2014 – reckons it’s about finding ways of watching TV as a family in a bid to sign up younger fans.
It comes as viewers could be in for a shock next week as the ITV soap has reportedly ‘lined up’ four exits.
Speaking at the Attitude 101 Lunch at London’s Rosewood Hotel, Charlie said: “I haven’t seen or for years.
“I know that they’ve been struggling with viewing figures but I think people don’t watch television in the way that they used to.
“Especially the younger generation are much more about streaming things or watching things on YouTube.
“I look at what my teenage kids watch. They don’t watch terrestrial TV.”That’s the thing that needs addressing. How do they attract a new generation of viewers? That’s the challenge for them.
“The older people who watch the soaps aren’t going to be around forever. You need to keep regenerating.When I was young I used to watch the soaps with my mum and dad because that’s what you did.
“You would sit down and watch the telly but there were only four channels then. Now they are everywhere. Maybe it’s a way of finding ways of watching stuff as a family.
“That might bring them in and get them watching.”
It comes as characters David Platt (played by Jack P. Shephard), Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) , Max Turner (Paddy Bever) , and Yasmeen Metcalfe (Shelley King) could all be killed off next week.
approached producers in early 2024 about her wish to leave the show after 10 years of playing the same character – then filmed her final scenes in December.
Her exit is the sixth cast departure in just two months, after a string of other cast members announced they were either quitting or had been written out.
– which had 27million tune in to watch Hilda Ogden’s farewell in 1987 but last week only had 2.5million watching Thursday’s episode – has also courted controversy due to an alleged cash crisis and outrage from the cast over poor working conditions and low salaries.
Since November, , , , , and — have all announced they will be leaving the show.
Other actors have allegedly vented their fury on a WhatsApp group over fears they could be next.
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But Condou doesn’t believe the current crisis “will be the end of soaps”.
He added: “Especially which is so loved. I think it’s still got life in it yet. I hope so.
“I’m part of the family. I left many years ago but it will always have my heart. I feel proud to have been in that show. Long may it last.”
Condou was speaking at the Attitude 101 Lunch, empowered by Bentley, celebrating 100 LGBTQ+ industry leaders and the ‘Trailblazer of the Year’.
And Marcus – who is set to appear in a new huge Disney drama which is yet to be revealed – said things are improving for queer actors in television explaining: “I think a lot of people are trying hard to redress the balance.
“You’ve got people like Russell T Davies who are doing incredible things for the queer community.”
He says the most inspiring gay people on television are Alan Carr and Rylan Clark who “are unapologetically themselves”.
He added: “People really stand true to who they are and don’t apologise. That’s why I really respect people like Alan Carr or Rylan or Russell Tovey.
“People who have been doing this a long time and who are uncompromising in their lives and being authentic. That is really inspiring.
“I’ve had wild nights out with all of them.”
ATTITUDE 101 AWARDS
Each category showcases 10 remarkable individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in their areas of expertise. See www.attitude.co.uk for more information.
‘TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR’• Nava Mau – Actress and filmmaker
Not only Emmy-nominated for her role in Baby Reindeer but also recognised by BAFTA as one of this year’s Breakthrough Award nominees, actress Nava Mau is also an accomplished writer and director whose credits include the celebrated documentary Disclosure.
FILM, TV & MUSIC• Olly Alexander – Actor and singer• Amrou Al-Kadhi – Drag artist, writer and director• Jade Anouka – Actor• Colman Domingo – Actor• Phil Dunning – Writer, actor and comedian• Cynthia Erivo – Singer and actor• JASMINE.4.T – Musician• Cooper Koch – Actor• Mikko Mäkelä – Director• Jason Patel – Actor and singer
BUSINESS• Roja Dove – Founder, Roja London• Stephen Brown – Commercial specialist, US Commercial Service at US Embassy• Bruna Gil – Head of partnerships EMEA, LinkedIn• Chris Glass – Global director of diversity, equity and inclusion, Soho House• Jamie Love – Founder, Monumental Marketing• Santino Pietrosanti – Director, Jaguar UK• Angelica Ross – Founder & CEO, TransTech Social Enterprises• Lexie Shaibu-Lenoir – Founder, Queer Weddings• Chris Sherwood – CEO, NSPCC• Dani Wallace – Founder, I Am The Queen Bee
FASHION, ART & DESIGN• Joseph Sissens – Principal dancer, The Royal Ballet• Alex Consani – Model• Adam Johnson – Ceramicist• Daniel Lismore – Living sculpture and painter• Seán McGirr – Creative director, Alexander McQueen• Zanele Muholi – Photographer and LGBTQ+ activist• Munya – Model• Sinéad O’Dwyer – Fashion designer• Harris Reed – Fashion designer, creative director, Nina Ricci• Steven Stokey-Daley – Fashion designer and creative director, S.S. Daley
FINANCIAL & LEGAL• Dame Julia Hoggett – London Stock Exchange CEO• Motie Bring – CEO, PPRO• Rebecca Chalkley KC – Barrister• Oscar Davies – Barrister• David Hynam – CEO, LV=• Keio Yoshida – Senior legal advisor, Center for Reproductive Rights• Deon Pillay – Head of marketing operations, Legal & General• Chase Strangio – Transgender rights lawyer• Anthony Watson – Founder, Bank of London• Dr Victoria McCloud – Legal consultant
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS• James Longman – Chief international correspondent, ABC News• Christian Cooper – Science and comics writer• Nova Dando – Global creative director, • Snake Denton – Journalist and presenter• William Hanson – Etiquette expert• Ben Hunte – Journalist and broadcaster• Charley Marlowe – Presenter and comedian• Hafsa Qureshi – Activist, writer and public speaker• Harriet Rose – TV presenter• Owain Wyn Evans – TV and radio presenter
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, & MATHEMATICS• Dan O’Neill – Biologist and television presenter• Dr Sundeep Singh Boparai – Operations manager, Northwell Health• Jerome Foster II – Environmental justice activist and entrepreneur• Max Harris-Jones – Technical assistant, Bentley Motors• Dr Layla McCay – Founding director, Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health• Dr Kate Nambiar – Gender clinician and endocrinology specialist, Welsh Gender Service• Tolu Osinubi – Director, Deloitte UK• Sarah Rench – GenAI security lead, Avanade• Kyne Santos – Drag queen and mathematician• Lauryn Yuen – Global client solutions manager,
SPORT• Thomas Hitzlsperger – Former footballer and LGBTQ+ advocate• Tom Daley – Diver• Anna Deignan – Director of fans and development, Premier League• Richard Morris – Motor-racing driver and co-founder, Racing Pride• Ryan O’Neill – Co-owner, Keighley Cougars• Marie Patouillet – Cyclist• João Lucas Reis da Silva – Tennis player• Sha’Carri Richardson – Sprinter• Milo Turnley – Founder, Transkaters• Noa-Lynn van Leuven – Darts player
THE FUTURE• GK Barry – Content Creator and Broadcaster• X González – Gun control advocate• Joe Hayes – Pride Beats Prejudice founder• Abbie Jane – Rainbow Shoelace Project founder• Shaneel Lal – Activist and ‘conversion therapy’ ban advocate• Joe Locke – Actor• Fred Roberts – Singer-songwriter• Olly Shinder – Fashion designer• Zaya Wade – Model and LGBTQ+ advocate• Vivian Jenna Wilson – LGBTQ+ advocate and activist
THIRD SECTOR & COMMUNITY• Friedel Dausab – LGBTQ+ activist• Josh Babarinde OBE – Liberal Democrat MP• Char Bailey – LGBTQ+ advocate• Simon Blake OBE – Chief executive, Stonewall• Rev Richard Coles – Broadcaster and author• – MP and Green Party Co-leader• David Furnish – Chairman, AIDS Foundation• Jude Guaitamacchi – Activist and founder, Trans+ Solidarity Alliance• Manvi Madhu Kashyap – Trans pioneer• Sarah McBride – US Representative
TRAVEL• Alicia Valenski – Travel writer and journalist• Kristofer Barber – Director of global communications, Booking.com• Ryan Bos – Executive director, Capital Pride Alliance• Nora von Breitenbach – Founder, Quouch• Doina Craciun – Co-founder, Queer Tours France• Mark Duguid – Managing director, Kuoni UK• Bilal El Hammoumy – Co-founder, Inclusive Morocco• Eva María Lange – Founder and CEO, Pink Iceland• Rick Stiffler – Senior vice president of global sales, Preferred Hotels & Resorts• Alex Zeitz – Senior director of international operations, Virgin Voyages