Ex-Emmerdale star Bill Ward reveals he's now a Tesco delivery driver after Covid cancelled acting wo

FORMER Emmerdale and Corrie star Bill Ward is making ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic with a new job as a Tesco delivery driver.

The ITV soaps favourite, who played James Barton in the Dales and Charlie Stubbs in Weatherfield, has told how he switched to a career on the road when acting jobs dried up.

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Bill, 53, lives in Tier Two Bristol with his partner and two children and, like many others this year, has sought another source of much-needed income away from his preferred profession.

Bill told Bristol Live he began work for the supermarket's delivery service in May, when the coronavirus pandemic halted a production of The Glee Club in which he was starring.

He told the publication: "Towards the end of May it started to become clear that the pandemic wasn't going away, and if anything it was going to get worse.

"That's when you look at the rest of the year ahead and think, 'Okay, I need to make a living this year; how are we going to do that as a family?"

The actor also revealed other side projects he's taken on this year, such as acting mentoring and photography talks, all done online.

He added: "My partner and I started doing things we wouldn't normally be able to do as much of, and for me one of those things has been giving photography talks to camera clubs over Zoom.

"I've also taught in drama schools and film schools, written for photography magazines and done a few bits of voiceover work for Channel 5.

"But on top of that you need some kind of regular income, so I've been a delivery driver for Tesco since the end of May, doing around 30 hours a week."

Many famous faces have been forced to follow suit in 2020 after jobs were cancelled as the global pandemic worsened.

Comedian Jason Manford - who was rejected by Tesco - has taken up a role as a delivery driver for Iceland instead.

He agreed to come and work with the chain after joking that he was "livid" at failing to bag a role with Britain's biggest supermarket Tesco.

Meanwhile, Corrie's Simon Gregson has been enjoying some extra income in tough times courtesy of £30 video messages for fans.

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Bill arrived in Emmerdale in 2013 following a stint on Corrie.

He was best known for his three years on the Weatherfield cobbles as builder Charlie Stubbs, a bully who was eventually murdered in 2007.

He left Emmerdale after his character James Barton was killed off in 2016.

Emmerdale's James Barton confirmed as show's shock death

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