Michael Le Vell, beloved by millions as Kevin Webster on Coronation Street, has spent over four decades as a fixture on Britain’s most iconic soap.
However, behind the scenes, his life has been marked by financial turmoil, personal heartbreak, and legal battles that have left him making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Despite earning a reported £250,000 a year on the show, Le Vell has faced mounting debts, a public bankruptcy, and emotional upheaval following a bitter divorce, a high-profile court case, and years of financial mismanagement.
Once celebrated as one of Soapland’s most cherished stars, his fortune took a turn for the worse as his financial situation “spiralled out of control,” leaving friends baffled at how he found himself in such a precarious position.
From costly legal battles to the fallout of his divorce, here’s a closer look at the turbulent journey that shaped Michael Le Vell’s life as he celebrates his milestone 60th birthday.
Costly Divorce
Michael Le Vell’s financial struggles began in 2011 when his 25-year marriage to Janette Beverley came to an end.
The pair had been together since the early days of his soap career, but the split left Le Vell without the steady hand that had kept his finances in order.
According to insiders, Janette had always managed the couple’s money throughout their marriage. A source told The Mirror: “She controlled the purse strings so kept him in line. Now he’s on his own it has all spiralled out of control.”
Without Janette, Le Vell struggled to manage his finances. The actor was left to navigate life as a single man with no one to oversee his significant income of £250k annually from Corrie.
Reports suggest that this was the beginning of his financial downfall, leading to mounting debts and poor financial decisions that would come back to haunt him.
Despite his financial struggles, a pal told the publication how the actor was determined to move on. The insider explained: “He sees this as another life lesson – he is not wallowing in self-pity.
“It’s a bit of a mystery to his friends how he has found himself in such a pickle, especially as he was suspended on full pay during the trial.”
Sex Abuse Scandal
In 2013, the Manchester-born star faced a highly publicised trial that further destabilised his life and finances. Accused of child sex offenses, the actor spent months fighting to clear his name.
Ultimately, he was acquitted of all charges, but the damage to his reputation and his wallet was substantial. The trial reportedly cost Le Vell £200,000 in legal fees.
Ministry of Justice rules prevented him from recouping the costs because he was deemed capable of paying for his own defence. This financial blow, combined with the emotional toll of the accusations, left him struggling to recover.
A source told The Sun: “He had false accusations hanging over him for years and couldn’t work.” Despite the acquittal, the trial marked a turning point in Le Vell’s personal and financial life, leaving him with mounting debts and a tarnished public image.
Bankruptcy
By 2018, Le Vell’s financial troubles reached a breaking point. Reports emerged that the actor owed a six-figure tax bill that he couldn’t pay, prompting HM Revenue and Customs to petition the High Court.
The court officially declared him bankrupt under his real name, Michael Robert Turner. Le Vell allegedly ignored multiple warnings to settle his affairs, resulting in legal threats being delivered to his girlfriend’s home in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.
The bankruptcy was a humiliating chapter for the actor, whose debts had spiralled out of control after years of financial mismanagement and legal fees.
Despite the setback, Le Vell’s friends described him as resilient and eager to move forward. “Things are on the up, he is loving work and he is not going to let this define him,” an insider said.
Le Vell was discharged from the legal status in 2019 a year after being declared bankrupt allowing the star to move on from his money woes as he can now open a new bank account after his account was frozen.
An insider told The Mirror: “Michael is over the moon that this hell has finally ended.”
