Gay ex-Corrie star to be a father

Former Coronation Street star Charlie Condou is to be a father, it has been announced.

The gay actor, who played Sean Tully's boyfriend Marcus Dent on the ITV1 soap, will welcome the arrival of his first child next month.

Condou's news was confirmed by Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, who is one of his close pals.

Holden told The Sun: "This is a very modern pregnancy. Charlie has a partner, but he's becoming a dad with a female friend."

She added: "It's going to be one lucky baby. Charlie's born to be a dad."

Condou's midwife character was introduced to Coronation Street in 2007 when Sean (Antony Cotton) fathered a child for his friend Violet Wilson (Jenny Platt). He made his final appearance last September.