Bless his Cotton socks!

Anthony Cotton — Streetfavourite

THE Chronicle celebrates the 50th anniversary of the world’s greatest soap, Coronation Street. with some of the local people who make it great

CAMP knicker-stitcher Sean Tully was a hit with Corrie fans from the moment he first appeared in 2004.

The former Oldham Theatre Workshop graduate, who has also starred in Channel Four drama “Queer As Folk”, came into the soap as a lodger at Eileen Grimshaw’s house.

He soon found work at the Underworld factory and secured a job as a barman at the Rovers.

Actor Antony Cotton, who has appeared in several plays at the Oldham Coliseum, is a passionate supporter of gay rights and is patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the LGF charity in Manchester, the Albert Kennedy Trust and the Queer Up North Festival.

The 35-year-old approached the Corrie writing team to ask for a part and worked with the crew to devise his character. The plan worked and fans took him to their hearts straight away.

In 2005, Antony won the Most Popular Newcomer category at the National Television Awards and the Inside Soap Awards for Best Newcomer and Funniest Performance. In 2006 he won the award for Funniest Performance.

Antony won the Best Actor prize at both British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards in 2007 and came first in ITV talent show “Soapstar Superstar”.

In 2008, he fronted “That Antony Cotton Show”, which was filmed in front of a live studio audience at Granada Television studios in Manchester. The show combined celebrity chat with topical humour. Antony also appeared on “Family Fortunes” in 2008 and won £10,000 for charity as well as trying his luck on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” with fellow Oldhamer and former Corrie star Suranne Jones.

On the Street, Sean has had his fair share of drama thanks to his penchant for a good old gossip with the factory girls.

In 2007, he had an affair with Sonny Dhillon behind his friend Michelle Connor’s back and also agreed to father a child for his best mate Violet Wilson.

His son Dylan was born in 2008 but Sean’s joy was shortlived when Violet ran off to London with her lover Jamie Baldwin.

He recently got himself into another pickle when he pretended to be Liz McDonald to get in touch with Violet on Facebook.


See the classic Street locations!

EVER wondered where the Red Rec was or where the Corrie weddings and funerals are filmed?

Or even the spot where evil Richard Hill drove his car into the canal in one of the Street’s most dramatic scenes?

Then why not join the Chronicle on a trip around the “off-studio” settings with Street expert Mark Llewellin. Mark will be giving an insider’s view of your favourite soap on a unique day out to celebrate the Street’s 50th anniversary.

The fascinating locations trip, filled with Street trivia, is on Wednesday, October 27 and is great value at only £15 per person.

To book your place call Chronicle promotions on 0161-622 2130.

But hurry, the trip is filling up fast!

Tomorrow, meanwhile, Mark will be hosting a talk organised by the Oldham Area Civic Society at the Local Studies and Archives Centre in Union Street.

The talk which is free to Society members and £2 to visitors, starts at 6.30pm.