When Michael Le Vell was handed a new year-long contract this month he breathed a sigh of relief.
Complacency isn’t wise in Coronation Street – even after 42 years playing mechanic Kevin Webster, who now owns the garage.
Michael, 61, tells The Mirror: “You can never take the job for granted. My contract was due in January and I’ve just been offered a new one, so I can breathe a sigh of relief for another year.
You can never look further than that, though. They might say, “You know what, we can’t write for you anymore, we can’t.” I say thank you and bid you far. That is the beast’s nature.
Bitter and depleted, after battling testicular cancer and losing his wife, Abi (Sally Carman) to his scheming brother, Carl (Jonathan Howard), gossip is rife among Corrie fans that Kevin could be set for a romantic reunion with ex-wife Sally (Sally Dynevor).
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People frequently ask me if I want to return to Kevin and Sally, and I always refuse, according to Michael. I do so because Sally and Tim are together. I don’t want them to end their relationship just so I can get back together with Sally because I think they’re a great couple. Because I adore working with Sally Carman, I’d go back with Abi. I’m hoping they can reconcile their differences in 2026, but that’s not currently a possibility.
What is guaranteed is a year of drama ahead – starting with Corriedale, the special episode on January 5, which will see Corrie and Emmerdale come together for the first time. Michael is sworn to secrecy on the details, but knows his family will be affected by a devastating pile-up on a country road between the two locations, after leaving the wedding of his sister Debbie (Sue Devaney).
He says: “It was an honour to be part of Corriedale because these things don’t come around too often. I was in a scene with a couple of Emmerdale actors – Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle) and Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle) – as we tried to move a crashed car, which was great. The episode involved a lot of night shoots out on location and our trailers were next to each other, so the casts of the two shows were always having a cup of tea and a chat, which was fun. It’s very exciting; it was a great privilege to be a part of it.”
After Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) Michael’s 1983 arrival at Weatherfield, he is the second longest-serving actor. He confesses, “No day goes by where I don’t get nervous,” and continues to get anxious before his scenes. I experience stomach churning and anxiety, especially when I’m present in every scene. If I’m in a scene with someone like Bill Roache or Barbara Knox out of respect, or if it’s a big showdown between the Rovers, it’s even more stressful.
When it comes to your bit, you’re thinking, “don’t mess up, don’t mess up,” if there are many people in the pub. Otherwise, they will all have to re-enter their dialogue, which adds pressure. He hopes to match 93-year-old Bill Roache, who is still holding his own. If they still want me, he says, “I’ll be in the show in my 70s, 80s, and 90s.” Never have I tried to leave.
“I’ve had so many lines recently where Kevin’s said ‘I’m old, I’m grey.’ He even mentioned something about retiring the other week and I went ‘I don’t want to say that line, thanks very much!’ As far as I’m concerned, I’m in the No 1 show. It’s the best job in television and if it’s not broke, why change it? I love the storylines and the people – great actors like Sally Dynevor, Sally Carman and Alan Halsall. They’re such a joy to work with that some days it doesn’t feel like a job. Although I’m not going to say that too loudly or they might stop my wages!”
After having daughters Rosie and Sophie, Kevin and Sally married three years after purchasing 13 Coronation Street from Hilda Ogden (Jean Alexander). He chuckles, “Jean Alexander was one of the show’s legends, but I can recall her once abusing me.” She requested that Bernard Youens, who played Stan, receive a get-well card. I had some oil on my card as I was just getting ready to film a scene in the garage. She yelled at me indignantly”!
Kevin and Sally had a happy ending until he cheated on her with Natalie Welch (Denise Welch), then cheated on her again and delivered his son Jack while having a fling with Molly, the ex-wife of his best friend, Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall). He has since split from Abi and Alison Wakefield, who committed suicide after their son Jake passed away.
Michael, who was born in Manchester, first began his acting career at the Oldham Theatre Workshop before making his TV debut in Corrie, where he played paper boy Neil Grimshaw, at the age of 15. He auditioned for the comedy drama series Scully three years later and was spotted playing Kevin. He recalls: “I was waiting in the corridor when the casting director came in and said, “Is there a spot for me for Coronation Street tomorrow?” I said ‘ no. ‘ She urged me to “leave it with me.” My agent called me when I got home and informed me that I would have an audition the following day. The rest is history as long as I enter and get Kevin’s role. I’ve lived here my entire life; I’ve grown up. Since I’ve been Kevin Webster since I was 18 years old, I now consider myself the show’s older statesman.
Michael and Louise Gibbons, their three Yorkshire terriers, and two Siamese cats, reside in Cheshire. They also have two horses, Maximus and Magica, who are passionate about nature and the countryside. Michael describes himself as “very different,” comparing himself to Kevin. When I’m not working, I’m mucking out, filling hay nets at the stables, and shoveling horse s**t.
Getting into horses 10 years ago through Louise, when they went for riding lessons together, he adds: “The horses give me serenity. When you’re riding, you can’t think about anything else. It’s the same with the dogs and cats. When I’m with them, they give me unconditional love, so I can’t help but give them unconditional love back.”
He even declared, “I’ve done alright,” and that he has even competed at equestrian events. I did little circles around the arena to earn gold medals for dressage and other things. But then I started taking jumping lessons because I was getting a little bored of that. I sprained twice. When you’re my age, you bounce differently. Really hurts, I mainly rely on Louise to handle the riding and feeding.
Kevin has been a lothario for four action-packed decades in Corrie, he saved Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) from a fire in The Rovers, and he has thrown more than one punch. He responds, “Angry Kev,” as Alan Halsall refers to him. He believes that everything he does is enraged. He is definitely a little hands-on with his fists. He has struck everyone at once, including Terry Duckworth. He first reacts, and then comes back and considers it later. I’ve been involved in more fights than anyone else on the cobbles. What, Kevin must have already struck his brother Carl four or five times? Next year, I’ll hit him once more. “
Source: Mirror
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