Antony Cotton

{{Infobox person

| name = Antony Cotton

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}

| image = Antony Cotton 3.jpg

| image_upright = 0.9

| alt = Greyscale photograph of a blond man with glasses

| caption = Cotton in 2006

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1975|08|05}}

| birth_name = Antony Dunn

| birth_place = Bury, Greater Manchester, England

| occupation = {{Hlist|Actor|comedian}}

| known_for = Role of Sean Tully in Coronation Street

| years_active = 1994–present

}}

Antony Cotton (born Antony Dunn; 5 August 1975) is an English actor and comedian, known for portraying the role of Sean Tully in Coronation Street, as well as portraying Alexander Perry in the original Queer as Folk series. In 2007, Cotton hosted his own talk show titled That Antony Cotton Show, which was cancelled after one series. In March 2013, he won Let's Dance for Comic Relief.

Early life

Cotton was born Antony Dunn in Bury, Greater Manchester, the son of actress Enid Dunn.{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/filmandtv/s/234/234690_mums_the_word_for_superstar_antony.html|title=Mum's the Word for Superstar Antony|access-date=25 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219041224/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/filmandtv/s/234/234690_mums_the_word_for_superstar_antony.html|archive-date=19 February 2007}} He attended Woodhey High School at Holcombe Brook, Ramsbottom, and the Oldham Theatre Workshop.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/aug/24/television | title='I'm really proud of what I'm doing' | work=The Guardian | date=24 August 2007 | access-date=11 September 2016 | author=McLean, Gareth}} He has an elder brother, Andrew.

Career

Cotton portrays barman and factory worker Sean Tully on Coronation Street, a role which he has played since 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/filmandtv/s/215/215419_corries_antony_im_just_a_lucky_fan.html|title= Corrie's Antony: I'm Just a Lucky Fan|access-date=25 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211020544/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/filmandtv/s/215/215419_corries_antony_im_just_a_lucky_fan.html|archive-date=11 December 2006}} His mother, Enid Dunn, also played several parts in Coronation Street between 2002 and 2014. Cotton played "Alexander" in the original UK version of Queer as Folk.{{cite web |last1=Chase |first1=Stephanie |title=Coronation Street's nod to Queer as Folk delights viewers |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a35953281/coronation-street-queer-as-folk-reference/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=7 May 2021 |date=26 March 2021}} He has also appeared in episodes of Absolutely Fabulous as "Damon". In 2007, Cotton won the second series of ITV's Soapstar Superstar.{{cite web |title=Antony Cotton |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5B3KPvbjpxQPw1sBrxzffmk/antony-cotton |publisher=BBC |access-date=7 May 2021}} He donated his winning money, £200,000, to the Elton John Aids Foundation.{{cite web |title=Soapstar Superstar: Antony wins title |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-and-tv/soapstar-superstar-antony-wins-title-978783 |website=Manchester Evening News |access-date=8 May 2021 |language=en |date=15 February 2007}}

In July 2007, it was announced that Cotton would be fronting his own teatime chat show on ITV. The show, That Antony Cotton Show, was filmed with a live studio audience at Granada Television studios in Manchester, and combined celebrity chat with topical humour. It was first broadcast on 13 August 2007. Following the end of the first series, ITV announced that the show was axed and would not return for a second series.{{cite news |last1=Fletcher |first1=Alex |title=Report: 'Antony Cotton Show' is axed |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/coronation-street/a87226/report-antony-cotton-show-is-axed/ |access-date=3 June 2022 |work=Digital Spy |date=24 January 2008}} He appeared on Family Fortunes on 20 September 2008 winning £10,000 for his chosen charity. In December 2008, he appeared with co-star Suranne Jones on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.{{cite news|url=https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/48250/bless-his-cotton-socks|work=Oldham Chronicle|date=18 October 2010|title=Bless his Cotton socks|access-date=19 April 2020}}

He also took part in the eleventh series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! which began airing on 13 November 2011. He left on 2 December 2011, after 21 days in the jungle, placing fourth. Cotton also starred in an episode of Mad Mad World on ITV1 in Spring 2012. He won first place in a series of Let's Dance for Comic Relief in March 2013. Cotton was a contestant for the 2018 revamp of Dancing on Ice.

Cotton made his film debut opposite Daniel Craig and Derek Jacobi in the 1998 film Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon.{{cite web|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/antony-cotton|title=Cotton, Antony – HELLO! Who's Who on British TV|access-date=25 February 2007}} He also appeared in the 1998 film, The Wisdom of Crocodiles. Cotton has appeared in several shows at the Oldham Coliseum, including The Fifteen Streets and The Hobbit at Manchester's Palace Theatre and Opera House. He appeared in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Middlesbrough Theatre.{{cite news| url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/culture/9416963.theatre-review-snow-white-seven-dwarfs-middlesbrough-theatre/|work=Northern Echo|title=Theatre Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Middlesbrough Theatre|access-date=19 April 2020|date=13 December 2011}}

Personal life

Cotton supports the Terrence Higgins Trust and is a patron of the LGF{{cite news|url=http://www.lgf.org.uk/sir-ian-mckellen-antony-cotton-say-enough-is-enough|title=Sir Ian McKellen & Antony Cotton say "Enough is Enough!"|last=Dunning|first=Joanne|date=28 August 2008|publisher=The Lesbian & Gay Foundation|access-date=24 April 2011|location=Manchester}}{{dead link|date=September 2016}} The Albert Kennedy Trust and the 'Queer Up North' festival.

In August 2009, it was reported in Digital Spy that Cotton is "openly gay".{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a171526/corrie-actor-wants-more-gay-characters.html#|title=Corrie actor wants more gay characters|work=Digital Spy|date=14 August 2009|access-date=24 April 2011|location=London|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly}} In March 2010, it was reported that Cotton had exchanged rings with his partner, Peter Eccleston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/antony-cotton-boyfriend-husband-married-14354055|title=Inside Antony Cotton's 12 year relationship with Corrie co-worker|last=Allcock|first=Beth|date=18 July 2018|website=OK!|access-date=4 October 2019}} In January 2012, footballer Michael Ball was fined by the Football Association for a homophobic rant on Twitter about Cotton.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/jan/24/michael-ball-fined-homophobic-twitter-coronation|title=Michael Ball fined for homophobic tweet to Coronation Street actor|date=24 January 2012|newspaper=The Guardian}}

Cotton is a patron of military charities Help for Heroes and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Alex |title=Corrie star Antony Cotton hails armed forces after attending Queen's funeral |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/british-army-westminster-abbey-angels-her-majesty-help-for-heroes-b2170613.html |website=The Independent |access-date=24 April 2024 |language=en |date=19 September 2022}}{{cite news |title=TV's Antony Cotton to become MBE for support to British soldiers and veterans |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/06/tv-s-antony-cotton-to-become-mbe-for-support-to-british-soldiers-and-veterans/ |access-date=23 April 2024 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |date=2 June 2022}}

Honours, awards and recognition

In 2005, Cotton won the Most Popular Newcomer category at the National Television Awards for his role in Coronation Street.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecustard.tv/linksandlists/nationaltvawards.html |title=National TV Awards |access-date=25 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209130210/http://www.thecustard.tv/linksandlists/nationaltvawards.html |archive-date=9 February 2007 |url-status=dead }} Cotton won the 2005 Inside Soap Awards for Best Newcomer and Funniest Performance. In 2006, he won the award for Funniest Performance. At the 2007 British Soap Awards, Cotton was awarded the Best Actor award, which was voted for by the public. Also in 2007 he won Best Actor at the Inside Soap Awards.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-and-tv/corrie-stars-at-soap-awards-1005166|title=Corrie stars at soap awards|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|date=25 September 2007|access-date=4 October 2019}}

Cotton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to the British Army, personnel and veterans.{{London Gazette|issue=63714|supp=y|page=B18|date=1 June 2022}}

Filmography

;Film

Year	Title	Role
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan="2"\|1998	Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon	Brighton Rent Boy
{{sortname\|The\|Wisdom of Crocodiles}}	Gang Member

;Television

Year	Title	Role	Episodes
class="wikitable sortable"
1995	Ain't Misbehavin'	Pizza Man	Season 2, episode 5
1998	{{sortname\|The\|Cops\|The Cops (British TV series)}}	Lad in Club	Season 1, episode 4
1999	Love in the 21st Century	Michael	Unknown
1999–2000	Queer as Folk	Alexander Perry	{{hs\|0}}7 episodes
rowspan="2"\|2000	Rhona	Alex	"{{hs\|Happy Jeans}}The Happy Jeans"
{{sortname\|The\|Bill}}	Georgie Girl	"Old Enemies" "New Friends"
2001	Absolutely Fabulous	Damon	"Parallox" "Menopause"
2002	Having It Off	Guy La Trousse	All 6 episodes
2003	Burn It	Stephen	Unknown
2003–present	Coronation Street	Sean Tully	Series regular
2004	Children in Need	Drinker/Policeman	2 episodes
rowspan="2"\|2005	Twisted Tales	Sam	"Charlie's Angel"
Coronation Street: Pantomime	Aladdin	Television film
2007	That Antony Cotton Show	Presenter	25 episodes
2010	East Street	Sean Tully	Charity crossover between Coronation Street and EastEnders