Coronation Street's Antony signs £120,000 deal

Coronation Street star Antony Cotton has signed a new £120,000-a-year contract, boosting his pay by £40,000.

The actor, who plays camp barman Sean Tully in the ITV soap, agreed to the 12-month deal with just six weeks of his current contract left, according to The Sun.

Last year Antony, who will turn 32 next week, reportedly threatened to quit unless he was paid £80,000 a year.

His latest deal comes after ITV bosses gave him his own 5pm chat show, That Antony Cotton Show, starting next month.

Antony has even roped in his mum, actress Enid Dunn, to be a roving reporter for the new programme.

He said: “It’s going to be gossipy, light-hearted, chatty and irreverent but most of all fun, with lots of tea and cake.”

ITV bosses are hoping Antony will prove a teatime ratings hit. They have struggled to attract viewers in the late afternoon time slot after Paul O’Grady was poached by Channel 4 last year.

Antony, who was named best actor at the British Soap Awards in May this year, will also continue with his Coronation Street role. Both shows are made at Manchester’s Granada Studios.

He is currently at the centre of a big Weatherfield storyline, in which his gay character is having a baby with best friend Violet Wilson.

An ITV source said: “Antony is shaping up to be a real viewers’ favourite. He’s definitely worth paying out the big bucks for.”

Antony said: “I love Corrie and the viewers love Sean, so it’s all a dream come true.”