Former EastEnders actor Aaron Sidwell has expressed his financial fears for the year ahead.
The one time soap star, 31, has been unemployed throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
And the father-of-two says he worries getting new acting work will be extra difficult during these unprecedented times.
Taking to Twitter, he addressed his 29,500 followers over his financial woes.
Aaron tweeted: “Is hard to keep smiling when everything I’ve worked so hard to build for 13 years could be taken away because I had 3 successful financial years.
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“I could, quite seriously, earn £0 in 12 months. #SelfEmployed #FallenThroughTheCracks #FatherOfTwo #AlwaysPaidTax.”
“Quite seriously earn £0 in 12 months”
Many of the jobbing actor’s followers rushed to offer suggestions of help.
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One suggested he apply for a charitable fund that has been set up to help out of work freelancers.
The user replied with: “You tried the fleabag fund? They’ve got another round of applications in July I think.”
Clearly intrigued by the suggestion, Aaron replied: “Thank you mate. I didn’t know about this!”
Other users simply offered their sympathy.
https://twitter.com/aaronsidwell/status/1266136557687377923
One said: “Same, haven’t even been paid for the last contract earlier this year.
“Same problem here”
“And haven’t made it onto this financial support scheme. 11 years of climbing 2 of them working professionally.”
A further user lamented: “Same problem here. Not in the arts, but can’t claim anything. Zero.”
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Last month Aaron pleaded with Twitter users to donate to theatres.
He urged: “As much as you’re enjoying all the free theatre, try to remember an awful lot of the country is getting 80% of their wages while an awful lot of freelance/self employed artists are getting nothing.
“Please, if you can, donate to theatres. Thank you.”
Indeed while many full-time employed workers have been put on furlough – freelancers have had it a lot worse.
On furlough workers are paid 80% of their earnings, but self-employed workers have to apply to a separate scheme.
And this freelancer scheme is set to end within days.
Aaron played Steven Beale on EastEnders in 2007 – 2008 and 2017-2018.
His character was killed off in 2018, and he went on to appear in several plays.
A method trained actor, he had already appeared in many plays prior to his EastEnders role.
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