Coronation Street actor suspended over 'crack' photos

Craig Charles, who played Lister in the TV series Red Dwarf, hugs a model of Kryton, another character from the TV series, in a 1995 file photo. Picture / Reuters

LONDON - Coronation Street actor Craig Charles has been suspended from the long-running television soap opera after a newspaper photographed him apparently buying and smoking crack cocaine, ITV said today.

Charles, who plays cab driver Lloyd Mullaney, was also suspended from a music show he hosts on BBC digital radio station 6 Music.

The Daily Mirror, in a front page report, showed the 41-year-old actor inhaling what it said were crystals of the drug from an empty beer can in the back seat of his car as he travelled from BBC studios in London to a flat in Manchester.

"Following allegations in the press today, actor Craig Charles has been suspended from his role in Coronation Street with immediate effect, pending further investigations by the company," ITV said in a statement.

"Producer Steve Frost met with Craig this morning to discuss the press reports and to advise him of the suspension.

"No immediate decision has been taken on the length of the suspension as further inquiries need to be made."

The BBC said Charles would not be presenting his Craig Charles Funk Show "while we are talking to him about these allegations."

Charles starred in the cult BBC science fiction comedy Red Dwarf and was the presenter of the "Robot Wars" television challenge.

He joined the cast of Coronation Street last year.

Charles would make no comment at present, ITV said.

It was the second time in less than a year that the Mirror has published snatched photos of celebrities apparently taking drugs. Last September it featured supermodel Kate Moss during what it called "a debauched drugs and drink session with junkie lover Pete Doherty."

Last week the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not press charges against Moss as it had been unable to confirm the nature of the substance involved.

- REUTERS