So, how much do these Albert Square legends actually take home? The numbers are a bit of a London postcode lottery, but the basic rule is: newbies start off humble. A fresh face like a new market trader might earn around £1,000 per episode.
That sounds like a lot until you remember it takes a week to film one episode. That’s basically a decent holiday, but they can’t spend it on a beach because they’re pretending to be gloomy in Walford. Meanwhile, you’re doing a week of overtime for a tenth of that.
The “Icon” Tax (Or, Being Phil Mitchell)
Then you have the A-listers, the ones who’ve been there since the ‘80s. We’re talking about Steve McFadden (Phil) or Letitia Dean (Sharon). These guys aren’t on per-episode wages anymore; they’re on a fat annual contract.
Rumour has it that top stars can pull in between £200,000 and £400,000 a year. That’s more than the GDP of a small country. For context, that’s enough to buy a new car every time you have a row in the Vic, or pay off your mortgage and buy a second house for your fictional secret son.
You, on the other hand, are over here trying to decide if you can afford the fancy cheese this week. The comparison is comical. It’s like comparing a tap in the Queen Vic to a fire hydrant.
