Actor suspended over drug claims

Craig Charles plays cab driver Lloyd Mullaney in the soap

Actor Craig Charles has been suspended from ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street following allegations of drug taking.

And the BBC said Charles would not host his radio show on 6 Music while managers talk to him about the claims.

The Daily Mirror alleged that pictures in the newspaper showed the 41-year-old smoking crack cocaine. It said it would make information available to police.

Charles plays cab driver Lloyd Mullaney in Coronation Street. A spokeswoman for the soap said the actor had no comment.

"No immediate decision has been taken on the length of the suspension as further inquiries need to be made," she said.

Radio show

The Mirror claims that the drug taking took place while the married father-of-three was being driven from London to Manchester.

Charles presents a funk show on the BBC's digital radio station 6 Music every Friday and Saturday evening.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that Craig will not be presenting his show while we are talking to him about these allegations."

Charles found fame in the BBC Two sitcom Red Dwarf and hosted the channel's Robot Wars. He joined Coronation Street last year.

He spent several months in prison in 1994 awaiting trial on a rape charge but was cleared in February 1995.

PFD, the agency that represents Charles, declined to comment.