An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows The Rovers Return Inn on Coronation Street

CORONATION Street stars have been banned from signing up to two popular reality shows – despite desperate attempts to make extra cash.

Amid cost-cutting measures on the longest-running soap, stars are in fear of losing their jobs and have been looking at new opportunities to widen their fan base.

A woman in a green sweater sits at a table with her mother and her mother's new boyfriend.

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Coronation Street stars aren’t allowed to appear on BBC reality showsCredit: ITV

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing.

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Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly host Strictly Come Dancing every autumnCredit: BBC

John Torode in a blue velour jacket.

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John Torode is presenting Celebrity MasterChefCredit: BBC
But former agents of Corrie actors have claimed bosses warned talent they will not be allowed to take part in Strictly Come Dancing or Celebrity MasterChef on rival channel BBC – unless they’ve quit the cobbles.

An insider told The Sun: “People are really scared of losing their jobs.

“It’s always been a bit of the Wild West there, but they can’t all be unemployed at the same time, because they’ll all be up for the same jobs so there’s a lot of panic.

“They’re banned from doing Strictly or MasterChef, unless they’re off the show. While they’re on, they can’t do shows on rival network.”

Our source added; “For their main stars, to stop them from leaving, they’re letting them out to do more stuff as they’re all now on episodic fees.”

Ex stars like Ellie Leach and Catherine Tyldeley headed straight for the dance floor after leaving the street where they performed in front of 10million people every Saturday night.

However, Ellie struggled to pick up work and Catherine is now returning to the soap after their careers struggled.

Savvy stars want to be able to juggle Corrie alongside other TV projects to keep them relevant, but also in demand.

ITV has a strict rule against this however, with actors told they are not allowed to make money on social media while working on Coronation Street.

As their need to be on side with a revolting cast deepens, production have been relaxing the rules.

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A soap insider insisted: “All cast are allowed to do BBC Shows, there is no ban, but Strictly is slightly different due to the impact it would have on schedules.

“It’s filmed for a prolonged length of time at the time of year when focus is on the Christmas storylines.”

“Many actors are stuck between a rock and a hard place because they want to be able to.”

Jack P Shepherd, who joined the soap in 2000, starred on Celebrity Catchphrase last weekend.

His on-screen mum left at Christmas after 40 years on the soap.

Her exit was watched by just 2.6 million viewers on Christmas Day.