Cheryl Fergison, best known for playing Heather Trott on EastEnders, has revealed she was forced to use a food bank earlier this year. The 60-year-old actress told the Sunday Mirror that after leaving the soap, she struggled with debts and couldn't afford a weekly shop. 'I sat there and cried and cried. It was shameful,' she said.
Fergison's financial troubles began after a womb cancer diagnosis in 2015, which halted her acting career and triggered early menopause, leading to mental health issues. She is not alone among British soap stars who have faced money problems after their time on screen.
Martine McCutcheon, who played Tiffany Mitchell on EastEnders, declared bankruptcy in 2013 after her lavish Italian wedding incurred unexpected costs, forcing her to sell her £25,000 engagement ring. Wil Johnson, who appeared in Emmerdale, was declared bankrupt twice, first in 2010 and again in 2014. Joe Swash, another EastEnders star, declared bankruptcy in 2008 and again in 2013, blaming tax bills and overspending.
Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after a £40,000 tax bill, while EastEnders' Kacey Ainsworth reportedly worked in retail security at B&M Bargains after taking a break from acting. These stories highlight the financial instability that can follow fame.
