Antony Cotton wrote to ITV bosses begging for a role on 'Coronation Street'.
Antony Cotton wrote to ITV bosses asking for a job before being cast as Sean Tully in Coronation Street
The 48-year-old actor first appeared on the soap as Sean Tully in 2003 before becoming a permanent cast member in April 2004 and he admitted he took an unconventional approach to land the part, which he doesn't think would work nowadays.
Reflecting on his impending 21st anniversary with the show, he told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Should they have a special to celebrate? I’m just thanking every heartbeat as it comes along. I’m very happy, very lucky.
“I do remember my first day on 'Corrie' ... as if it was yesterday. But I wasn’t nervous, it felt like coming home because I knew so many people who had been in and out.
“Suranne Jones [who played Karen McDonald] was there, Sally Lindsay [who played Shelley Unwin] was there. I knew some of the writing team, you know, I asked for the job.
“I wrote and asked for the job, which is not a recommended way of getting gainful employment. But that’s how I ended up there, it worked. You can’t do that nowadays.
“Everything’s changing, the world ’s a different place.”
Antony - was awarded an MBE for his efforts to improve the lives of military personnel - loves working on 'Corrie' and is "most proud" that it has given him a platform to campaign on issues that are important to him.
He explained: “Corrie is special to me. I love where I work and I’m very, very proud of it.
“I’m most proud of the platform it’s given me for things like my work with the armed forces. I wouldn’t have had that without ‘Queer as Folk’, without ‘Coronation Street’. I’m thankful for every little stage of the way.”
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