The stark reality of inflation is being felt by Coronation Street’s characters in Roy Cropper’s café, where pie, chips, and mushy peas have dramatically risen in price.
Eagle-eyed viewers of the ITV soap noticed the blackboard at Roy’s Rolls charged £2.60 for the meal back in the winter but, three months, later the same dish was marked up to £5.50.
“Inflation is real,” Gregor Swanson wrote on Twitter. “Roy Cropper has had to put up the price of pie, chips, and mushy peas by 112 per cent in the last three months.”
Cropper, who is played by David Neilson, has long been at the helm of the café, which is a favourite lunch spot for characters. The price rise was not mentioned on the show but was perhaps the attempt of producers to let the series follow events in the news.
The character is a fan favourite and was known for his marriage to the now-departed Hayley.
Fans of the show commented on Mr Swanson’s post to swap banter.
“Fleecing the Coronation Street community behind the mask of a friendly neighbour,” KW wrote. “Haley would never have allowed this, god rest their soul.”
Arjun Mittra wrote: “Surely it was underpriced before?”
Another added: “How the hell was pie, chips and mushy peas £2.60 a year ago? Unless Coronation Street is actually in Albania?”
Cropper first appeared on Coronation Street in 1995 and became a regular two years later.
Neilson has said in the past that the character probably has Asperger’s syndrome, although this is never confirmed on the show.
The actor told the Mirror: “It’s never mentioned in the story though, and it shouldn’t be — Roy is a human being, and a label doesn’t help him. But I think he’s got it.
“It gives him reasons for his behaviour and gives me something to play. I enjoy idiosyncrasies in people and Roy is full of them.”
