Former 'Coronation Street' star Catherine Tyldesley slams soap's 'gruelling' 12-hour work days

Former Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley has hit out at the ITV soap for ‘taking over her life’ with its ‘gruelling’ 12-hour days.

The British actor joined the long-running series as character Eva Price in 2011, and went on to play her for seven years.

“It was 7am to 7pm every day at Corrie,” the 35-year-old told the Daily Star, as she recalled her time on the show. She also detailed how actors were sometimes required to work seven days a week.

Read more: 'Corrie' loses sixth cast member in three months as Katie McGlynn quits

“Those are moments in your life you never get back,” Tyldesley continued. “I love spending more time with my little boy now."

She went on to admit that she’d been so busy spending “special” time with her fiancé Tom Pitfield and three-year-old son Alfie that she’s “not managed to watch” any of it since she left in August 2018.

In recent months, several actors have quit the show from Lucy Fallon and Faye Brookes to Tristan Gemmill and Kym Marsh.

While none have voiced any grievances with the soap - and in fact, have stated categorically that they are leaving in order to pursue other work-related challenges - a source told the same publication that the "cast has had enough."

Particularly when it comes to salaries, the source claimed, adding: "The younger ones work their butts off to promote the show but are badly paid.”

Read more: Helen Flanagan confirms Rosie Webster's return to 'Coronation Street'

It has previously been reported that veteran cast members Simon Gregson (aka Steve McDonald), William Roache (who has played Ken Barlow since 1960), Barbara Knox, who joined soap four years later, and Jack P Shepherd (aka David Platt) make over £200,000.

Meanwhile, newer talent allegedly get paid around £10,000 less than the average UK wage.