Corrie’s Kevin Kennedy reveals he used to drink a bottle of vodka a day

Coronation Street’s Kevin Kennedy revealed he used to down a bottle of vodka on his way to set every day during the height of his addiction battle. 

Now 25 years sober, the actor, 61, spoke out about his history with alcoholism and how his role on the show was a ‘reprieve’ for him during his addiction.

Kevin starred as Norman ‘Curly’ Watts on the Manchester-based soap for 20 years from 1983 to 2003, and was a fan favourite as a loveable character whose prized possession was a telescope.

But behind closed doors, Kevin was battling with an alcohol addiction which he describes as ‘extreme’ as he admits he would follow his vodka in the morning – with three bottles of wine, speed and cocaine at night.

He collapsed after going two days without booze in May 1998, describing the ‘blackout-come-stroke’ as a ‘moment of clarity’ as he told Coronation Street bosses about his decade long problem.

This October, he will be celebrating 25 years sober – but Kevin insists he won’t be making a big thing of the occasion.

Sober: Coronation Street’s Kevin Kennedy has opened up about his alcoholism as he celebrates being 25 years sober and noted that his role on the show was a ‘reprieve’ for him during his addiction

He told The Mirror: ‘The last time I had a drink will be 25 years ago in October. I haven’t thought much about it as it’s never the last drink I worry about, it’s the next one. That’s what I’m always concentrating on. But I’ll probably raise a cup of tea in salute, because tea is the answer to everything.’

Kevin also says he does not see the job as a cause for his alcoholism, adding that if anything, the role as Curly was a ‘bit of a reprieve’.

He continued: ‘It wasn’t the pressure of the job that made me do what I did, I did it because I liked it and liked I so much I got addicted and couldn’t stop it. 

‘But playing Curly was the perfect job for an addict, because when I performing I was someone else, and he was a lovely guy who everyone loved. To be honest, being Curly, it was a bit of a reprieve from being me.’

The actor also credited Coronation Street’s bosses for saving his life after they sent him to The Priory.

His current role is on the Rock Of Ages musical on stage – where he plays a club owner Dennis Dupree who is surrounded by prop drink and drugs, but he said that does not ‘trigger’ him any more.

Last year, Kevin told The Sun that he ‘knew my drinking wasn’t normal’.

‘I came to in the ambulance and it scared the hell out of me’, he said. ‘I knew I would die if I carried on but emotionally I didn’t get it, the addiction was telling me it was normal.’

Star: The actor, 61, starred as Norman ‘Curly’ Watts on the Manchester-based soap for 20 years from 1983 to 2003, and was a fan favourite as a loveable character whose prized possession was a telescope (pictured in 2001)

Struggles: But behind closed doors, Kevin was battling with an alcohol addiction which he describes as ‘extreme’ as he admits he would drink a bottle of vodka on his way to the Corrie set every day – followed by three bottles of wine, speed and cocaine at night (pictured in November 2021)

The actor continued: ‘I knew my drinking wasn’t normal – no one else I knew drank in the morning, cancelled plans because they couldn’t get a drink or only went on holidays where they could drink the most – but I couldn’t stop.’ 

He added: ‘Alcohol held me back, I couldn’t concentrate and made terrible decisions. Quitting alcohol gave me turbo energy.’

He admitted the phones ‘hadn’t stopped ringing’ at his charity Kennedy St, which aims to help people battle their addiction to alcohol.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, he said: ‘We have a very small charity, Kennedy Street. Over the lockdown, our phones have not stopped ringing. It’s people who are self-medicating at home during the pandemic. 

‘Now is the perfect time to get sober. We’ve been doing fundraising and we need some help. I think we may lose more people through mental health problems than with the actual virus, the way things are going.’

‘There’s no judgement. We don’t judge anyone here. We’ve all been through it. That’s the secret of it. There’s a privacy to it. You can get help without having to do much. You are not on your own.’ 

Battle: This October, he will be celebrating 25 years sober – but Kevin insists he won’t be making a big thing of the occasion (pictured on Loose Women in May 2022)

Corrie’s Kevin Kennedy reveals he used to drink a bottle of vodka a day
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