After moving onto the cobblestones in 2004, Antony Cotton became best known for his portrayal of Sean Tully in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.
As Antony celebrates his birthday, Express.co.uk looks inside his life, including his marriage, his inclusion on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022, and his time on Dancing on Ice.
Coronation Street
When Sean first arrived in Weatherfield in 2004 in quest of housing, he quickly discovered himself at No. 11 and was fired from a cosmetics company.
He was the first male mechanist for Underworld and instantly adopted Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Clever) as his son.
Sean works in the factory and has been a barman in the Rovers Return since 2005. After Betty Williams (Betty Driver) passed away in 2012, Sean took over the catering and was given the secret recipe for her renowned hotpot.
Sean hasn’t had much success with relationships after repeatedly putting his heart on the line and having it scorched.
The two significant relationships he had before they left him for Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) and Todd Grimshaw (Garath Pierce) were with sonographer Marcus Dent (Charlie Condou) and vicar Billy Mayhew.
Despite being out and proudly homosexual, Sean conceived Violet Wilson’s child (Jenny Platt) with the agreement that he would have no involvement in the child’s upbringing.
Violet left, but when Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) was born, Sean broke his end of the bargain.
His involvement in Dylan’s life was confined to the occasional visit until 2022, when Dylan convinced him and Violet to let him spend an extended stay in Weatherfield. He eventually tracked his son out in London in 2011.
Sean experienced a particularly low time in 2018 when he lost both of his jobs, found himself homeless, and turned to begging on the streets.
Billy saved him and allowed him to relocate into 19a Rosamund Street while he recovered. He is now back at No. 11 with Eileen and Todd.
union with Peter Eccleston
While working together on Coronation Street, Antony met prop buyer Peter Eccleston, with whom he has been in a relationship since 2005.
They occasionally post updates on social media to give followers a brief glimpse into their marriage while maintaining their private relationship.
We are a fantastic combination, and Peter pulls out the best in me, he said in a 2017 interview with InsideSoap.
“While I take care of him at home, he always watches out for me and defends me when we’re out.”
ties to Coronation Street
Not only Antony and his girlfriend are linked by Weatherfield; Antony’s mother Enid Dunn has also made an appearance.
She has made four brief appearances, the most recent of which was in 2014 at the burial of the late Dennis Stringer (Charles Dale).
She most recently portrayed Maureen Rothwell, the target of a botched mugging, and she also played tea lady Agnes in the one-off special The Road to Coronation Street.
Keith, his partner Peter’s father, reportedly managed construction on the MediaCityUK Corrie set as well.
Beyond his immediate family, Antony has acted as a matchmaker for his co-stars, pairing up Jennie McAlpine and Kym Marsh with their respective husbands.
The Ice Dance Show
In 2018, Antony participated in the ITV skating competition and was teamed with professional Brandee Malto, an American skater who travelled from California to participate in the competition.
Before appearing on the programme, he said: “I have this strange fixation on chopping off my fingers. I had better put on my skates because I have some practise to do.
They had to incorporate a challenging end-to-end step sequence from one length of the rink to the other during the week before his elimination.
The judges gave the couples a challenge to arrange the manoeuvres into the dance, which further complicated it.
All four judges voted to advance Max Evans and boot Donna Air and Antony after they faced off against each other.
In response to a question about his travel, he said: “I’ve had a blast, and I can go forward and backward, so I’m thrilled.”
2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List and Volunteering
Antony has done a lot of charitable work outside of his employment on Coronation Street and uses his prominence to promote the causes.
He serves as an ambassador for the Manchester United Foundation (MU Foundation), Veterans Garage, and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).
Additionally, he supports Manchester Pride, the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity, and Heroes.
Antony received an MBE for his service to the British army, troops, and veterans in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List as a result of his work with the organisations.
Previously, Antony told the Manchester Evening News that he intervened to assist a homeless guy.
He claimed that a person he knew but wasn’t pals with had messaged him on social media seeking for assistance since he was living in a building’s stairwell.
The actor claimed that he turned to the organisations Barnabus and Homes of Hope for help and that these organisations provided him with housing and jobs.
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