'My head disappeared up my a**e for many years': Craig Charles admits he FORGOT to cash in six-figure cheques as he 'partied all night' at the height of his fame

By Laura Fox For Mailonline

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Craig Charles has revealed he would forget to cash in cheques worth an eye-watering six figures as he 'partied all night' at the height of his fame.

The actor, 56, who rose to fame in the cult space series Red Dwarf, confessed his indulgence in drugs and alcohol in his twenties led him to hide big-money cheques for months before cashing them in.

Craig is currently appearing in the ITV series Don't Rock The Boat, which sees him join a slew of stars competing in teams to row the length of the UK in gruelling conditions.

Shocking: Craig Charles has revealed he would forget to cash in cheques worth an eye-watering six figures as he 'partied all night' at the height of his fame (pictured in 2017)

Shocking: Craig Charles has revealed he would forget to cash in cheques worth an eye-watering six figures as he 'partied all night' at the height of his fame (pictured in 2017)

Craig told The Guardian that after rising to fame as a poet and comic, he'd earn huge amounts of money through hard partying.

He said: 'My head disappeared quite firmly up my a*** for many years.

'Then I'd be late for things or not show up at all. I didn't put the work in, didn't have the ethic, didn't give things the full attention that they deserved.'

What? The actor who rose to fame in the cult space series Red Dwarf, confessed his indulgence in drugs and alcohol in his twenties led him to hide big-money cheques (pictured 1999)

What? The actor who rose to fame in the cult space series Red Dwarf, confessed his indulgence in drugs and alcohol in his twenties led him to hide big-money cheques (pictured 1999)

Craig then admitted he used to receive cheques worth up to £200,000 and would hide them in a drawer rather then cashing them in.

He added: 'I'd just stick them in the bedside cabinet. Every now and then, I'd go to the bank and pay them in.'

Alongside starring in Red Dwarf - which returned to screens in 2016 after an on-off break - Craig played Lloyd Mullaney on Coronation Street from 2005 to 2015, before leaving the soap to resume work on Red Dwarf.

Chaotic: Craig said that after rising to fame as a poet and comic, he'd earn huge amounts of money which he hesitated to pay in (pictured as a DJ in 2015)

Chaotic: Craig said that after rising to fame as a poet and comic, he'd earn huge amounts of money which he hesitated to pay in (pictured as a DJ in 2015)

He revealed he chose to leave the soap after his brother Dean passed away from a heart attack in 2014, forcing him to pull out of that year's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. 

The screen star said he hit rock bottom in 1994 when he was spent three months in Wandsworth Prison on remand after being charged, and later acquitted, with rape, and said he still struggles to think about the ordeal.

In 2005 he was suspended from Corrie after being pictured smoking drugs and reading a porn magazine, but he returned a few months later.   

Challenges: The screen star added he hit rock bottom in 1994 when he was spent three months in Wandsworth Prison on remand after being charged, and later acquitted, with rape

Challenges: The screen star added he hit rock bottom in 1994 when he was spent three months in Wandsworth Prison on remand after being charged, and later acquitted, with rape

Currently Craig is appearing with stars including Olympic champion Denise Lewis and singer Fleur East on Don't Rock The Boat.

The series sees twelve stars divided into two teams competing in a race to row the length of the UK in gruelling conditions.

Wednesday's show saw him clash with Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton after he accused her of being 'toxic' with her competitive attitude, leading him to pull out of that leg of the row in favour of taking on the land challenge.

Tough: Craig is currently appearing in the ITV series Don't Rock The Boat, which sees him join a slew of stars competing in teams to row the length of the UK in gruelling conditions

Tough: Craig is currently appearing in the ITV series Don't Rock The Boat, which sees him join a slew of stars competing in teams to row the length of the UK in gruelling conditions

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