Cotton 'hits back at John Partridge'

Coronation Street star Antony Cotton has reportedly hit back at John Partridge after the EastEnders actor branded his Weatherfield character a "stereotype" of a homosexual man.

In a magazine interview earlier this year, Partridge admitted that he did not want his Walford alter ego Christian Clarke to be anything like Cotton's character Sean Tully, explaining that it was important to represent other members of the gay community.

Speaking at the time, Partridge remarked: "What I didn't want as a stereotype was what I call a teatime gay. The Sean Tully type of character is the reason my character is here.

"I've worked in theatre for 20 years and there are lots of queens in the West End that look and act like that."

According to the Daily Star, Cotton has now responded to Partridge's comments by saying: "This is from a man who on the same day goes on Elaine Paige's show and reveals how he hoovers dressed in a catsuit."

Partridge's character Christian is currently involved in a high-profile gay storyline with practising Muslim Syed Masood (Marc Elliott).