Antony Cotton has said he won't be taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing as his loyalties lie with his job on Coronation Street.
Antony Cotton as Sean Tully / Credit: ITV
Despite being tipped in recent reports to take part in the dance competition BBC One series, he dismissed the rumours during his appearance today (June 24) on Lorraine.
Having signed a contract extending his time on Corrie as Sean Tully for at least another year, he insisted that Strictly would be too time-consuming.
He explained: "I've just signed for Coronation Street for another 12 months, which takes me to August next year. I can't do both - you've got to dedicate your life to [Strictly].
"It is one of my favourite television shows and I would bite their hand off, but my loyalties lie at Coronation Street and I've signed for another year there. I love it there - that's my second family."
Going on to discuss life at the soap, he continued: "It's like a nuthouse. We are a great big fully-formed dysfunctional family and I see that dysfunctional family more than I see my own dysfunctional family.
"I can't believe I've been there 13 years. If you don't stay there for over a year it's because either your character doesn't fit in there from the show's point of view, or the actor themselves doesn't enjoy it.
"The people that are left like me - the people that have been there for a long time - it's because they fit into that family role and we all have different roles to play. I'm normally the annoying irritant in Underworld, for example!
"Within the show we all play a part, but then outside of the show privately in the green room we all play other parts. The reason I've been there so long is, as well as the role I play of Sean, the role I play within the unit."
Cotton also went on to chat about his character's current romantic storyline with Daniel Brocklebank's role as vicar Billy Mayhew.
"I adore Daniel who's playing Billy. It's a really nice, unusual storyline that nobody else has done really, especially on a show like ours. I'm really, really pleased - really happy.
"We're also working towards a live ep. That's in September. Because one episode will be live, we've got to pre-film the two before and the two after like we normally do. We're prepping that week and it's in the book now. So in a few weeks we'll start to shoot the beginnings of those.
"I can't tell you anything about it yet because I don't think they've written it yet, but we know what's going to happen."
Coronation Street continues on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.