Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard is under investigation after her acting firm failed to settle a £100,000 tax bill.

Beverley’s acting company, of which she is a director, was set up to handle her pay after leaving the ITV soap and went into voluntary liquidation last year owing HMRC £101,554 in outstanding tax and VAT.

Beverley and husband Jon McEwan have also failed to repay £114,000 in director’s loans they took out from the company, called JMBJ Limited.

Administrators have started an investigation into the business, including looking into the couple’s failure to repay the loans. They are also investigating her failure to repay the tax debts. Liquidators confirmed in new documents dated May 11 that the directors have not paid back any of the loans or the tax bills.

They said: “We carried out an initial review of the company’s affairs, including seeking information and explanations from the directors by means of questionnaires, making enquiries of the company’s accountants, examining company bank statements and other records.

“This initial assessment revealed matters that the liquidators considered merited further investigation in relation to the director’s loans. As a result, the liquidators have undertaken further reviews. They are making enquiries with the directors in relation to the outstanding balance owed.

“Insufficient funds have been realised to allow a distribution to creditors at this stage. Due to the ongoing investigations, it is currently uncertain whether there will be sufficient funds for a distribution to creditors.”

Current Corrie star Bill Roache, known to millions as Ken Barlow, is currently fighting to pay at £546,000 tax bill.

Bev, who played barmaid Liz McDonald in the long-running soap from 1989 until 2020, opened up about stepping away from the soap last year.

Speaking on the podcast How to be 60 last year, Bev explained what kept her there for so long and what changed.

She said: “I just felt that the cripts weren’t what they used to be. I’m trying to be diplomatic.”

The hosts then asked if she managed to leave before she became miserable and unmotivated by the job.

She said: “I wasn’t miserable; it’s difficult to put into words. But years ago, we used to get the scripts, and you’d open them and think, ‘Oh my goodness, this is amazing. I cannot believe I’m going to be filming this!’ and then for me, well, first of all, they didn’t write for me as much because I was older, and that really got to me.”

A statement released by Beverley Callard’s spokeswomen on her behalf said: “Many of these details are incorrect but due to the fact that Jon and I are in a legal dispute, sadly I cannot speak about it at this time – but when it is resolved, and it will be, I will talk about it and look forward to setting the record straight.”