Corrie Michael Le Vells life – gay icon, drug battle and second soap role

Coronation Street favourite Kevin Webster finds himself on the wrong side of the law this week.

As he sets about fixing Stephen Reid's car, first his son Jack Webster, then Abi, call his mobile and Stephen threatens to take his business elsewhere.

With the pressure finally getting to him, mechanic Kevin loses his temper and picking up a wrench, starts smashing up Stephen’s car.

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Later, As Kevin prepares for Abi’s homecoming he is shocked to come face to face with two police officers at the door. Can Kevin keep what happened from Abi?

Actor Michael Le Vell, 57, has been portraying the character on the ITV soap since 1983.

Now, as Kevin shows off his darker side, Daily Star has taken a look inside the TV star's life away from the screen.

Corrie fame

Three years before he originally played the iconic role of Kevin, Michael guest starred as paperboy Neil Grimshaw on Coronation Street.

His short storyline saw him get into trouble for throwing away newspapers instead of delivering them and he only appeared in two episodes before returning in 1983 as the mechanic Kevin Webster.

Kevin met another Corrie legend Sally Webster when he drove past her whilst she was waiting for a bus.

They married and had two children together but their relationship was turbulent as Kevin had multiple affairs, most notably with Natalie Barnes, played by Loose Women presenter Denise Welch.

He was suspended from the soap in 2013 due to allegations of sexual offences, which he denied and was later found not guilty for, but returned for a short time in 2014, before leaving again to deal with a drug habit he had picked up during the difficulty of the trial.

His current storyline sees his recent return from his honeymoon with new wife Abi Franklin.

Second soap role

As well as playing Kevin for almost 40 years, Michael also played another character in Coronation Street.

Speaking to Daily Star and other press earlier this year, Michael explained: "I came in as Neil Grimshaw, the paperboy, first for a few episodes and then when that finished Judy [Hayfield] said we'll find something else for you.

"I wasn't actually up for Kevin Webster. I was in the corridor waiting to audition for a programme called Scully and then Judy walked passed and asked 'Am I seeing you tomorrow for Kevin Webster?'.

"I came back and auditioned for Kevin the next day and I got the job which was for 12 episodes.

"So I finished them 12 episodes, went off and did Panto at Oldham Coliseum and got a call to see if I wanted to come back and that was almost 40 years ago now."

Gay icon

Le Vell gained a huge gay following when he began playing Kevin in the 80s.

His character sported tight jeans, a large moustache and most notably an earring.

He was the first British actor to wear his left ear pierced during a show which resulted in a huge volume of fan mail – although traditionally the right earlobe suggests someone is part of the LGBT community.

He spoke about his famous moustache last year and the star said he was booked to appear in gay nightclubs up and down the country.

Michael revealed that the absence of his facial hair changed everything: "Everybody loved my moustache! I was booked up doing appearances at gay clubs throughout the country, from Land's End to John O'Groats.

"I could go out six nights a week, having a great time, doing Q&As, signing autographs, having photos taken.

“I used to get loads of fan mail, and underpants sent in the post but then, in the show, Stephanie Barnes shaved off Kevin's ‘tache for a bet. It changed overnight, nobody would book me.”

Drug battle

After the trial, Michael left Corrie for a three month period to deal with a cocaine addiction he had developed, which he said was an attempt to help him deal with the situation.

The trial cost Michael Le Vell £20,000 in legal fees, which led the actor to declare bankruptcy.

He went on to check into The Priory close to his Manchester home, while Corrie gave him as much time off as he needed.

Michael told the Sunday Mirror in 2014: "I had never felt so low. I knew I was innocent but everything was closing in on me.

“And when someone offered them to me, I just agreed. The first time I ever did cocaine was in the lead up to my trial. There were some bad influences around me and it felt like an escape. Now I’m so ashamed of what I did.”

Love life

Michael married his co-star Janette Beverly, who played minor character Elaine Pollard in Coronation Street, in 1986.

They were married for 25 years and divorced in 2011, a decision which was allegedly influenced by his charges.

Michael and Louise Gibbons began dating in 2014 and the pair got engaged in 2017.

A source said at the time: “Michael has been to hell and back and even now feels the effects of the case, but throughout his battle with addiction he’s had Louise by his side.”

Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV at 8pm

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