'Coronation Street' have started filming for their 10,000th episode.

Antony Cotton

Antony Cotton

Antony Cotton - who plays Sean Tully on the ITV soap - took to Twitter to reveal his final scene of this year is the first of the special episode, which will air in 2020.

He wrote: "My last scene of 2019, filming the first scene of our 10,000th episode! A very nice end to a brilliant year. Have a great Christmas everyone. Stay safe x (sic)"

Following Wednesday's (18.12.19) double bill, 'Corrie' have now clocked up 9,955 episodes since the show began on 9th December 1960.

And Antony looks set to stick around on the ITV soap for a while, after he confirmed in August that he had put pen to paper on a new contract.

He said: "I had a meeting about my future. I didn't sign up straightaway. You have to negotiate a little bit!

"It will be my 17th year. I'm so pleased because I love being on the show. It's a nice set."

The soap star - who is also a long-term supporter of the Armed Forces charity SSAFA - feels like he has "three families" because of his work life.

He explained: "I spend more time with my 'Corrie' family than I do with my real one.

"I'm very lucky. I have my three families - my real family at home, my 'Corrie' family and then my military family."

His contract announcement came a year after Antony signed his previous 12-month extension to keep him on the ITV show, and he admitted at the time he thought his initial 'Corrie' stint would be short lived.

He revealed: "I genuinely thought I'd be here for three months.

"I thought that would be really great - regular work then off to the next job. So I'm amazed it's 15 years. I'm proud of Sean. He's been a beautiful part of my life for so long now."

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