Soapland’s secret battleground -the six-figure payday the stars are battling over and why it’s bad news for Strictly

FOR years landing a place on Strictly Come Dancing or I’m A Celebrity was the dream for soap stars. But I can reveal that these days, the actors are secretly fighting over another gig – and it’s sparked chaos in soapland. Jack P Shepherd will be cashing in on panto this year after previously being unable to Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk The new dad will be playing the Prince and is expected to really cash in Credit: supplied For the first time ever the cast of Emmerdale and Coronation Street are on a level playing field with EastEnders and are allowed to take up lucrative contracts away from the show. And the real money maker? Panto. Once thought of as a bit naff and the place for washed up stars, pantomime is now a £140m money spinner each festive season. Now, everyone is keen to get a slice of the action and after a recent rule change for the ITV soaps, competition has never been fiercer. My TV insider revealed: “At one time they were competing for Strictly or IAC but actually the big money is in panto and there’s more to go around -plus they don’t have to eat a kangaroo’s bum. “For a high profile run you can bank more in panto for a month than in those shows – and there’s no risk of destroying your marriage or career in the process.” Interestingly, Strictly fans have already been complaining about the line-up this year, insisting it doesn’t have the star quality it once did. It would suggest the tide is already turning. For years EastEnders stars have been able to command huge sums to appear in pantomimes and the ITV stars have been forced to leave their jobs if they wanted to cash in in the same way. But following the employment tax changes, ITV has been forced to relax its historically strict exclusivity clauses, allowing cast members to take short hiatuses – for things like panto, taking on brand deals, or any other side hustle. I’m told it’s left EastEnders cast members worried about what it will mean for them. The insider continued: “Panto deals are done up to a year in advance and there’s a big worry that next year the deals just won’t be there for some of the EastEnders cast. “There are definite nerves for them now. Corrie and Emmerdale get millions more viewers than the BBC soap so any panto bosses wanting to sell tickets will want someone from those shows. “This year Jack P. Shepherd’s bagged a lucrative deal but he’s just one of the big ITV names that are targets for pantos. “Danny Miller, Claire King, Simon Gregson and Cath Tyldesley are all high on the list for producers. “As long as the offers come in early enough, there’s no good reason that stories can’t be crafted to let them take a break over the Christmas period.” They added: “It’s not ideal for some bigger stories but it’s the price ITV is willing to pay to keep its big names happy in the world of endless cuts.” Steve McFadden is returning to panto land once again Credit: BBC He has boosted his salary for years over the festive season – playing Hook here in 2013 Credit: Fame Flynet Last year Phil Mitchell star Steve McFadden landed £100k to play the villain Abanazar in Aladdin at the Alban Arena in St Albans, running from December 5 to December 31, 2025. While Shane Richie – former Queen Vic boss Alfie Moon – starred in Whittington at the Theatre Royal Plymouth for £95k. And Emma Barton played the villainous Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty at the Princess Theatre, Torquay. Emma – who plays Honey Mitchell in the soap – took home £60,000, a boost to her rumoured £150k a year BBC salary. Bradley Riches is one of the Emmerdale stars who will be making the most of the new roles Credit: ITV Rosie Bentham has landed herself a role on the stage this Christmas Credit: ITV This Christmas, new dad Jack P Shepherd will make his pantomime debut playing the lead role of the Prince in Sleeping Beauty in North Wales. The actor – who has played David Platt on Corrie for 26 years and is thought to earn around £250k doing so – could be paid anything up to £100k for the role. Corrie’s Ryan Mulvey, who is playing Brody Michaelis on the soap – is also cashing in and has signed up for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool. Over on Emmerdale Rosie Bentham, who plays Gabby Thomas, will be in Cinderella in the Mansfield Palace Theatre, and Lewis Barton actor Bradley Riches is in Peter Pan at the Sunderland Empire. Rosie will be starring in Cinderella Credit: Instagram/UK Productions Pantos have been a long running money-spinner for EastEnders favourites. Shaun Williamson here as Hook Credit: Alamy The EastEnders cast are far busier – at least for now. Viewers should brace themselves for a few missing characters this Christmas – Steve McFadden, Shane Richie, Jessie Wallace, Ellie Dadd and Zaraah Abrahams have already secured their festive jobs. It’s not just ruffling feathers amongst the EastEnders cast either. One of the biggest earners for ex Corrie and Emmerdale stars has always been panto, but with the current cast available the former soap stars will find it even harder to make ends meet. Our insider added: “Soapland is becoming increasingly hard for stars to navigate and it’s more competitive now than ever before. “Money is tighter so everyone is looking for ways to make cash elsewhere – and unfortunately it does mean that the former soap stars who really relied on panto might end up missing out.” We might be hearing a few more boos and hisses this panto season…